The response of the international community to the terror attacks of September 11th should be to develop a "culture of dialogue and non-violence" to resolve differences, the Dalai Lama has told the European Parliament.
The Parliament chamber was full for the address by the Tibetan Buddhist leader and Nobel Peace Prize winner.
There was widespread applause when he announced he would speak in Tibetan "to respect my own unique, separate language".
He described the invitation to speak as "an encouraging gesture of genuine sympathy and concern for the tragic fate of the Tibetan people".
It was evident that the human community had reached "a critical juncture in its history".
In the past, communities could think of one another as fundamentally separate. "But today, as we learn from the recent tragic events in the United States, whatever happens in one region eventually affects many other areas."
In today's world, self-interest lay in considering the interest of others. "However, as much as we praise diversity in theory, unfortunately often we fail to respect it in practice. In fact, our inability to embrace diversity becomes a major source of conflict among peoples."
He said there should be more contact between the different religions.
"Followers of one tradition will find that, just as in the case of their own, the teachings of other faiths are a source of both spiritual inspiration as well as ethical guidance to their followers.
"It will also become clear that irrespective of doctrinal and other differences, all the major world religions help to transform individuals to become good human beings."
Violence was a "totally inappropriate" means of settling disputes in the newly-emerging global community.
"There would be no winners at all if another global conflict were to occur today. We must, therefore, have the courage to call for a world without nuclear weapons and national armies in the long run," he said to applause.
He was convinced most human conflicts could be resolved through genuine dialogue.
"I have, therefore, consistently sought a resolution of the issue of Tibet through non-violence and dialogue. Right from the beginning of the invasion of Tibet, I tried to work with the Chinese authorities to arrive at a mutually acceptable, peaceful co-existence."
There had not been a matching response from the Chinese government. "Unfortunately, I must sadly inform you that a lack of political will on the part of the Chinese leadership to address the issue of Tibet in a serious manner has failed to produce any progress.
"My initiatives and overtures over the years to engage the Chinese leadership in a dialogue remain unreciprocated."
He said this left him with no alternative but to appeal to the international community. "It is clear now that only increased, concerted and consistent international efforts will persuade Beijing to change its policy on Tibet.
"Although the immediate reactions from the Chinese side will be most probably negative, nevertheless I strongly believe that expressions of international concern and support are essential for creating an environment conducive for the peaceful resolution of the Tibetan problem," the Dalai Lama said.
Security concerns following the September 11th attacks on the US forced the Dalai Lama to cut short a European trip that was to have included Paris, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Croatia.
He is the third world religious leader to address the parliament, an honour normally reserved for heads of state. The first was the Orthodox Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, Patriarch Bartholomeos I, who addressed the parliament in April 1994.
However, when Pope John Paul II addressed the European Parliament in October 1988, he spoke in his capacity as the Vatican head of state.