Mayor of Canossa, in the ceremonial tricolor flag sash, shares a laugh with President of Central Tibetan Administration in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Photo/Office of the Sikyong
CANOSSA: To mark 20 years since the historic visit of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to the Canossa village of Italy, Casa del Tibet (House of Tibet) invited President Dr Lobsang Sangay of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) to the beautiful castle.
Mayor of Canossa Luca Bolondi greeted President Sangay in his ceremonial tricolor flag sash.
Recognizing the region’s important role in hosting dialogues, i.e. the historical encounter between Pope Gregory VII and Emperor Henry IV, Bolondi said, “The Mayor’s office wants to help dialogue happen.”
“We hope the dialogue spirit of Canossa will pass on to the cause of Tibet,” said President Sangay.
President Sangay shared Tibet’s tragic story and warned Italy about signing China’s mega Belt and Road Initiative recently.
“We lost our country through one road. The road that was supposed to bring us ‘peace and prosperity’ brought guns and tanks instead,” he said.
Also present were two members of the Italian parliament, Matteo Luigi Bianchi of the ruling party and Antonella Incerti of the opposition party.
From the left: Member of Italian parliament Matteo Luigi Bianchi and Antonella Incerti with CTA President Sangay, Canossa’s Mayor Bolondi and Tibet Bureau Geneva’s Representative Rigzen at a dinner reception in Riggio Emilia Italy.
Both members were recently seen in Dharamshala at the March 10 Tibetan National Uprising Day.
While the two come from different political parties, both are united on the issue of Tibet and human rights.