Dalai Lama in ‘informal’ talks to return to Tibet

[AFP]
DHARAMSALA: The Dalai Lama indicated on Thursday that he was in informal talks with China to make a historic pilgrimage to Tibet after more than half a century in exile.

The Tibetan spiritual leader said he had “made clear” his desire to undertake the pilgrimage to a sacred mountain in his homeland to contacts in China, including retired Communist Party officials.

“It’s not finalized, not yet, but the idea is there,” the 79-year-old told AFP in an interview in Dharamshala, where he lives.

Feel confident, you are not alone, Turkey’s top general tells soldiers in Syria. (Süleyman Shah Tomb)

Turkish Chief of Staff Gen. Necdet Özel has addressed the Turkish soldiers keeping guard at the Süleyman Şah tomb in Syria in a special Eid-al-Adha message, saying the army would lend support to the staff in the event of an attack on the area.

“You are successfully performing this duty that was assigned to you at this critical period Özel said.

No ISIL/ISIS attack on Turkish tomb in Syria (Military sources)

Turkish military sources on Sept. 29 categorically denied any attack by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) on the Suleiman Shah tomb, an official enclave in Syria protected by Turkish troops.

A ranking military source, speaking on the condition of anonymity, told Hürriyet Daily News the “claims” in The Washington Post story on Dec. 26, 2013 about ISIL surrounding the tomb and taking patrolling Turkish soldiers “hostage” were “untrue and baseless.”  “We do not have any such problems” the source said.

Erdogan confirms "aid" to Turkish military post inside Syria. - Süleyman Shah Tomb

A Turkish convoy has carried “aid” into Syria, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on April 23, responding to claims that Turkish forces have started an operation against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) near the tomb of Süleyman Shah, which sits 25 kilometers from the border and remains under Turkish sovereignty under a 1921 treaty.

“Right now, the issue is not about ISIL. The job of our convoy there is to transfer aid to the Süleyman Shah tomb. Our friends in charge are continuing the effort,” Erdoğan told journalists after hosting primary school students in Ankara for national Children’s Day.

Turkey to defend historical tomb in Syria. -Turkish President Abdullah Gul

Turkish President Abdullah Gul on Sunday vowed to protect the Süleyman Shah Tomb in Syria if it comes under attack, local media reported.

"Some countries have lands outside their homelands. Suleyman Shah Tomb is our land outside Turkey. We will protect it just as we defend our homeland," Gul said.

"It's Turkey's soil and it will have its flag there. Everybody should know this," he added, in response to recent threats from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant to lower Turkey's national flag on the tomb before March 24.