Tibet: Fourth World Parliamentarians' Convention on Tibet to be Held in Scotland from 18-19 November
This convention is organised by the Cross Party Scottish Parliamentary Group of Tibet in collaboration with the All Party Parliamentary Group for Tibet (UK). The coordinator is Tibetan Parliamentary and Policy Research Centre, New Delhi, a unit of the ATPD.
Objectives of the fourth WPCT is to reaffirm support for the Middle Way Approach of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for resolving the issue of Tibet through direct negotiation with Peoples Republic of China (PRC) and to define a concrete plan of action on what the Parliamentarian can do to resolve the issue of Tibet.
Announcing the WPCT in Edinburgh, Chris Ballance, convener of the Cross Party Group on Tibet, said "I am delighted that we are able to bring the convention to Edinburgh and am particularly pleased that we will once again be welcoming His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Scotland, soon after his visit last year."
The fourth convention is being held after 8 years. The worldwide Tibet movement has moved from strength to strength since the first WPCT. There has been considerable increase in the number of Tibet support groups and parliamentary groups for Tibet.
130 parliamentarians from 40 countries, 16 representatives from the Central Tibetan Administration including Deputies, 9 organisational and drafting committee members from India and 2 special invitees, ITSN Co-chairs making total of 170 members, will participate in this convention.
Welcome reception of the delegates on 17 November evening and the closing ceremony will be held at the Scottish Parliament Building. The formal proceedings of the convention will be conducted in the Carlton Hotel or the City Council Hall on 18 and 19 November.
The first such convention was held in New Delhi from 18 to 20 March 1994, which was attended by 69 parliamentarian from 25 countries.
The second WPCT was hosted in Vilnius from 26 to 28 May 1995, attended by 88 parliamentarians from 21 countries.
The third WPCT was hosted by US House International Relation
Committee of the US Congress on 23-24 April 1997, in Washington DC. 63 parliamentarians
from 27 countries participated in this convention.
