World leaders & Dalai Lama |
Meetings with world leaders
The Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama spends much of his time meeting with world leaders and political figures in an effort to highlight the situation in Tibet in a peaceful and diplomatic manner.
Recently, the Chinese authorities have reacted harshly to these meetings, labeling Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper's meeting with the Dalai Lama 'disgusting conduct'. and summoning the German Ambassador in Beijing to complain when the Tibetan leader met Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Angela Merkel responded "As the chancellor of Germany, I will decide on whom to meet and where." The Dalai Lama stated "wherever I go, China protest. The Chinese are simply testing how far they can go."
Dalai Lama receives Congressional Gold Medal
In a high-profile public ceremony on 17 October 2007, the Dalai Lama was awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, the top US civilian honour.
The honour was presented by George Bush; the first time a sitting US President has appeared in public with the Tibetan spiritual leader. Mr. Bush hailed the Dalai Lama as "a universal symbol of peace and tolerance".
China's reaction was immediate. Government spokesman Liu Jianchao said "China is strongly resentful of this and resolutely opposes it."
Gordon Brown meets the Dalai Lama in May 2008
Following a campaign by Free Tibet and the unrest in Tibet in March 2008, Gordon Brown agreed to meet the Dalai Lama when he visited the UK in May 2008.
Mr. Brown had been asked to ensure that this is a meaningful meeting in which the problems in Tibet will be discussed. It has been reported that Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao has told Mr. Brown that he would be willing to enter a dialogue with the Dalai Lama.
Barack Obama on the Dalai Lama
US President Barack Obama's message that change can happen has met with approval throughout the world, and the President's past comments on the Dalai Lama have been encouraging.
President Obama supported the Dalai Lama's award of the Congressional Gold Medal, and has also cited his support on other occasions.
Read more about Barack Obama's statements about the Dalai Lama here
Dalai Lama refused entry to South Africa
A peace conference designed to promote the 2010 World Cup was postponed after Nobel laureates Archbishop Desmond Tutu and FW de Klerk pulled out when the Dalai Lama was refused a visa to attend.
The South African Government stated that it would not allow entry to the Dalai Lama, despite his status as a Nobel laureate, until after the World Cup, and has been accused of bowing to political pressure from the Chinese authorities.
BBC: Dalai Lama ban haults conference
CNN: South Africa peace summit postponed after Dalai Lama row
GUARDIAN: Dalai Lama's South Africa Conference ban causes uproar
TELEGRAPH: South Africa accused of selling out over Dalai Lama ban
