11 August 2008 - 07H47
Dalai Lama's France visit is spiritual, not political
The Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, has arrived in France for a 12-day visit. He will meet first lady Carla Bruni Sarkozy at a temple opening in southern France on August 22, though he will not be meeting with the French president.
The Dalai Lama arrived in France on Monday, a member of his entourage said, ahead of a high-profile 12-day visit during which the Tibetan spiritual guide will not meet President Nicolas Sarkozy.
He was welcomed by religious leaders at Paris's Charles de Gualle airport shortly around 6 am (0400 GMT) after arriving from New Delhi.
The visit officially kicks off on Tuesday with the inauguration of a Buddhist temple south of Paris.
The Dalai Lama will meet with French lawmakers, but instead of Sarkozy his wife Carla Bruni-Sarkozy will attend the inauguration of a temple in southern France on August 22.
Planned more than two years ago, the Dalai Lama's French visit turned suddenly political after a Chinese crackdown on unrest in Tibet in March that sparked international outrage in the run-up to the Olympics.
A planned meeting with Sarkozy was cancelled at the Dalai Lama's request to avoid provoking China and setting back talks between Tibetian and Chinese parties, Sarkozy's office and members of the Nobel peace laureate's entourage have said.
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Comments
daila lama
this daila lama is one, not real france subject, who born in toulouse france! Y hope he will stay forever,in his natural home country,toulouse france.Because hey trying to intimidate, the hole tibetan econemy,in good of his self and his family!!!! many greetings from one servent gods roads.
When ...
When trade is more important than Human Rights
When you crowl in front of China
When you are to conveniant to the States
I do not feel any more so fine in France !
Maybe its time to leave ?
Leave your land home of adoption, after all these years spent here ?
In spite of your family, your friends ?
Luckily I am not French !
I think I would be tremendously ashamed ...
Long Life Dalai Lama !
I pray ...