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Slovenia minister meets Dalai Lama despite China

AFP

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama looks on during his public lecture in Tabor hall in Maribor, some 150 kilometres from Ljubljana on 6 April 2010. A Slovenian minister held an unscheduled meeting with the Dalai Lama despite warnings by China of damage to ties, on 7 April 2010.File photo/AFP/Getty Images/Hrvoje Polan/Slovenia

A Slovenian minister held an unscheduled meeting with the Dalai Lama despite warnings by China of damage to ties, as the Tibetan spiritual leader wrapped up a three-day visit Wednesday.

Minister without portfolio Bostjan Zeks met the Dalai Lama in the second city of Maribor, although no talks with Slovenian authorities had initially been planned.

The Chinese embassy had warned that the visit could damage Slovenian relations with Beijing.

Local media and opposition leaders criticised Prime Minister Borut Pahor for not receiving the Dalai Lama, unlike his predecessor Janez Drnovsek and former President Milan Kucan, who ignored China’s protests in 2002.

On Tuesday, the Nobel peace prize laureate met opposition party leaders, including former premier Janez Jansa.

China claims that Tibet is an integral part of the country and that any meeting with him constitutes interference in its internal affairs.

The Dalai Lama was travelling to Switzerland next on his European tour.

Copyright © 2010 AFP

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