The city council of Milan, Italy, has backed away from next week’s planned vote on whether to grant His Holiness the Dalai Lama honorary citizenship in the city – this after pressure from both the Italian Foreign Ministry and the Chinese ambassador not to vote on it.
In a move that drew widespread criticism from Tibetan supporters, it has been reported, Milan worried the honor could negatively impact its relationship with China; the city is set to host an upcoming international exposition in 2015. In a show of support for the Dalai Lama, other Italian cities have offered to make him an honorary citizen of their communities.
Pietro Tatarella, the city council member who first championed the idea, said, “Today, I am ashamed to be a representative of the Council and a city that are scared.”
Kalsang Dolker, President of the Tibetan community in Italy, said that the move in acquiescence to China will “cover Milan with shame.” You can read the full coverage from the Los Angeles Times here.