Dalai Lama awarded honorary doctorate in Estonia

The Dalai Lama was on Thursday awarded an honorary doctorate in Oriental Studies from the University of Tartu in Estonia. The university's president, Alar Karis, awarded the Dalai Lama with the honorary degree at the Estonian Academy of Sciences. The Dalai Lama was awarded the degree by the university's council in May 2005, but the university's head wished to deliver the degree in person. "The decision was made to give the Dalai Lama the title of honorary doctor of Oriental studies for his dissemination of humanistic ideas and peaceful solutions throughout the world, his support of Estonia's aspirations for freedom, his large contribution to developing and promoting international cooperation in Oriental studies at the University of Tartu, and his raising international awareness of the University of Tartu," Karis was quoted by EPB news service as saying. The Dalai Lama's visit to Estonia has led to a diplomatic row between Estonia and China. The Chinese Embassy in Tallinn claimed on the eve of the Tibetan spiritual leader's visit that Estonia is seriously harming relations between the two countries. "We demand that Estonia call off official meetings with the Dalai Lama and stop interfering in China's interior affairs," the Chinese Embassy said in a statement issued on Tuesday. Beijing accuses the Dalai Lama of attempting to separate Tibet from China, and has called on foreign leaders to honor China's serious commitment that recognizes Tibet as an integral part of China and opposes contact between foreign leaders and the Dalai Lama in any form. The Chinese Foreign Ministry called on the Estonian ambassador in Beijing to clarify the situation and firmly opposed the meeting between Estonian government officials and Dalai Lama. The Dalai Lama had an unofficial meeting with Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves on Wednesday. Ilves confirmed his support for the Estonian government's continuation of the One-China policy, emphasizing his conviction that Tibetan history, religion and culture enrich the People's Republic of China in the broadest possible sense. The Dalai Lama also held a meeting with members of parliament who support Tibet's independence. Parliament delegations from Latvia and Lithuania also joined the meeting. The Dalai Lama has previously visited Estonia in 1991 and 2001. Tibet has been a source of controversy for decades, since Beijing sent troops to occupy the country following the 1949 Communist revolution. It insists the region has been part of Chinese territory for centuries, a claim disputed by many Tibetans. The Nobel Peace Prize winner, a declared pacifist, the Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959, has repeatedly said he seeks autonomy for Tibet rather than independence from China. He retains his role as a spiritual leader to Tibetan Buddhists.