Richard Gere meets local Tibetan leaders in Zurich

Zurich, 23 September: Richard Gere met with local Tibetan leaders this morning to discuss the current situation in Tibet during a short visit to Zurich. The Zurich Film Festival honoured Richard Gere yesterday with this year’s Lifetime Achievement honour at a gala screening of “Arbitrage” – his latest film.
He said he was always happy to meet Tibetan friends.
Rikon Monastery’s Abbot Geshe Thupten Legmen, Ms Tenzin Keldan (President of the Tibetan Youth Association), Mrs Pema Lamdark (President of the Tibetan Women’s Association), Ms Kunsang Gangshontsang (Tibetan Community) and Mrs Monlam Maurer-Adotsang (Swiss Tibetan Friendship Assocation) met Richard Gere at his hotel in Zurich this morning. Tibet Bureau, Geneva organized the meeting.
The representatives of the Tibetan community and associations expressed their gratitude to Richard Gere for his long time support for Tibet and informed him of their activities.
Richard Gere said that he was happy to know that the Tibetan community in Switzerland was politically very active. He expressed his deep concern about the present situation in Tibet, especially the self-immolations by 51 Tibetans.
The Swiss media reports highlighted the deep connection between Richard Gere and the Tibetans.
(Report filed by Office of Tibet, Geneva)