Warsaw names Dalai Lama honorary citizen

WARSAW - Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama was named an honorary citizen of Poland’s capital Warsaw after an unanimous vote from the city councillors Thursday.

“As councillors in a city as historically experienced as Warsaw, we have the moral right and responsibility to show respect and honour a person who seeks freedom and sovereignty for his countryman and his country,” the councillors said in a statement.

China accuses the Dalai Lama of wanting an independent Tibet, but the exiled leader, who lives in India since 1959, insists he wants autonomy for the region.

The spiritual leader was in Poland in December to attend celebrations marking the 25th anniversary of former Solidarity trade union leader Lech Walesa receiving the Nobel Peace Prize.

Polish President Lech Kaczynski had also met with the spiritual leader, and sparked backlash when China warned Warsaw about creating impediments to Chinese-Polish relations.