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Dalai Lama curious about China's path post-Games

By Emma Vandore | AP

PARIS, France, 13 August 2008—Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama leans on a car door before leaving a press conference in Paris 13 August 2008. The Dalai Lama is in France from August 11 to 22.Pasacal Rossignol/Reuters/France

The Tibetan spiritual leader is in France for a 12-day visit that coincides largely with the Beijing Olympics. While the visit is devoted mostly to spiritual matters, Wednesday offered two opportunities to discuss the issue of Tibet — a news conference and a closed-door meeting with French lawmakers.

Though China has accused him of being insincere, the Dalai Lama said he has always supported China’s hosting of the Games.

“After the Olympics, what will happen?” he asked. “I don’t know. Wait and see.”

The Dalai Lama said the international community “should be firm” with China on the issues of democracy, human rights, religious freedom and the rule of law.

“But we should not isolate China” and instead bring it into the international community with “genuine friendship,” the Dalai Lama said.

Chinese authorities blame the Dalai Lama for recent unrest in Tibet, which Beijing says was part of a campaign to split the Himalayan region from the rest of China.

The Dalai Lama has denied the accusations, saying that despite China’s crackdown in Tibet, he still supports a solution of meaningful autonomy for the Tibetan people under China’s rule, not independence.

Envoys of the Dalai Lama met with Chinese authorities for a new round of talks last month. At the time, one of his envoys said the talks were difficult but said he would return for more discussions after the Olympics. The Dalai Lama echoed those sentiments Tuesday.

“My first expression is disappointment,” the Dalai Lama said. “But still we want to continue talking to the Chinese government.”

President Nicolas Sarkozy has decided not to meet with the Tibetan spiritual leader while the Olympics are taking place.

Sarkozy’s office says the Dalai Lama did not seek a visit with the president during his stay, and the French government has said the two men will have a chance to meet later this year.

Neither Sarkozy’s office nor the Dalai Lama’s supporters confirmed a report in Le Parisien newspaper Wednesday that said the two would meet Dec. 10 to mark the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Asked whether he would meet Sarkozy later this year, the Dalai Lama responded, “If he wants (to meet) I’m happy, if he does not want (to) it’s OK.”

Copyright © 2008 Associated Press

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