New Zealand:
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1181449
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>PM undecided over Dalai Lama</b>
<b>Jun 13, 2007</b>
Prime Minister Helen Clark says she still hasn't decided whether she will meet exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, next week.
The Dalai Lama has been in Queensland as part of an Australian tour before travelling to New Zealand. Clark has been travelling with a trade delegation in Australia and has held talks with Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.
"I'm still considering next week's <b>diary</b>," Clark told reporters. "I'm really not going to comment further because I realise this is an issue of some considerable political debate here in Australia this week."
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will meet the Dalai Lama next week.
Acting Prime Minister Dr Michael Cullen said he expected China to contact the government about the visit of the Dalai Lama, who arrives in New Zealand on Saturday.
"I am sure that if any representations are made, and I would not be surprised if the Chinese Embassy made representations on such a matter, the New Zealand government will still make up its own mind about what it does," Cullen said.
China has expressed its anger at Australia's political leaders meeting the Dalai Lama, and said meetings could harm Sino-Australian relations.
Chair of the Dalai Lama Visit Trust, Thuten Kesang, said Foreign Minister Winston Peters had arranged a meeting with the exiled religious leader.
"Currently we have the foreign minister will be meeting with him, on Tuesday when we are in Wellington," Kesang said.
Kesang said he thought China was pressuring New Zealand leaders not to see the Dalai Lama.
"Every time he visits here all the politicians have met with him. This is the first time I am having a lot of difficulty for the prime minister to pin down her yes or no. I personally believe it is the Chinese pressure," Kesang said. "Our politicians should have the guts to make up their own minds," he said.
He said Helen Clark had met with the Dalai Lama twice while opposition leader, and last time the spiritual leader visited he met then deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton because Clark was out of the country.
Opposition Leader John Key was yet to decide if he will meet the Dalai Lama, a spokesman said, but foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition, Murray McCully, will meet the religious leader.
The Green Party's foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke has criticised Clark for failing to make a decision on meeting the Dalai Lama.
"Our prime minister has got to be at least as strong as John Howard, who is proceeding to meet the Dalai Lama despite hostility from Beijing," Locke said. "Our country can't be seen to put good economic relations with China, and a free trade deal, ahead of the human rights of the Tibetan people."
Source: AAP<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Australia also seemed to be hesitating a while back, but it seems it's decided to meet the Dalai Lama after all:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200...948811.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Howard will meet Dalai Lama</b>
<b>June 12, 2007</b>
[Photo: The Dalai Lama is expected to meet the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader while in Australia. (File photo) (ABC TV) ]
Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd are both expected to meet the Dalai Lama during his visit to Australia.
Mr Howard had previously said he needed to check his <b>diary</b> but his office has now confirmed the two will meet later in the week.
Mr Rudd is also expected to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader but a time has not been set.
The Dalai Lama has given a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra today and will be given a reception at Parliament House later this afternoon.
He says it does not matter to him if he meets Mr Howard during his visit or not.
He has told the National Press Club he has no political agenda to discuss during his visit.
"If I have the opportunity of meeting the Prime Minister, perhaps - I consider him as an old friend - I will be happy," he said.
"If not, it doesn't matter. On this table, I heard the Prime Minister may receive me, so ask the Prime Minister's office."
Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer accused Mr Rudd earlier today of playing politics over a meeting with the Dalai Lama.
Speaking on ABC Radio's AM program, Mr Downer questioned Mr Rudd's motivation.
"He said this year that he wouldn't meet the Dalai Lama and then two days later, he said he would," he said.
"I think it just is a reflection of the fact that Mr Rudd just plays politics the whole time."
The Australia Tibet Council wants Mr Rudd to use the meeting to support greater autonomy for Tibet.
Council chairman George Farley congratulated Mr Rudd on AM today.
"I would like Kevin Rudd to say, 'We will use our influence subtly, gently, not in any kind of bullying way. We will use whatever influence we have to raise the issue of Tibet with the Chinese,'" he said.
Speech
In his speech today, the Dalai Lama urged Australia to stand firm with China on the issue of human rights.
His holiness says Australia must be honest with the country if it wishes to be a true friend.
"There are certain principles such as human rights and also democracy, rule of law, free press - these things you should stand firm on," he said.
"So that means you are a true friend of China. Whatever they have done, you say, 'Oh good, wonderful,' then the Chinese themselves eventually lose their faith."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1181449
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>PM undecided over Dalai Lama</b>
<b>Jun 13, 2007</b>
Prime Minister Helen Clark says she still hasn't decided whether she will meet exiled Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, next week.
The Dalai Lama has been in Queensland as part of an Australian tour before travelling to New Zealand. Clark has been travelling with a trade delegation in Australia and has held talks with Queensland Premier Peter Beattie.
"I'm still considering next week's <b>diary</b>," Clark told reporters. "I'm really not going to comment further because I realise this is an issue of some considerable political debate here in Australia this week."
Foreign Minister Winston Peters will meet the Dalai Lama next week.
Acting Prime Minister Dr Michael Cullen said he expected China to contact the government about the visit of the Dalai Lama, who arrives in New Zealand on Saturday.
"I am sure that if any representations are made, and I would not be surprised if the Chinese Embassy made representations on such a matter, the New Zealand government will still make up its own mind about what it does," Cullen said.
China has expressed its anger at Australia's political leaders meeting the Dalai Lama, and said meetings could harm Sino-Australian relations.
Chair of the Dalai Lama Visit Trust, Thuten Kesang, said Foreign Minister Winston Peters had arranged a meeting with the exiled religious leader.
"Currently we have the foreign minister will be meeting with him, on Tuesday when we are in Wellington," Kesang said.
Kesang said he thought China was pressuring New Zealand leaders not to see the Dalai Lama.
"Every time he visits here all the politicians have met with him. This is the first time I am having a lot of difficulty for the prime minister to pin down her yes or no. I personally believe it is the Chinese pressure," Kesang said. "Our politicians should have the guts to make up their own minds," he said.
He said Helen Clark had met with the Dalai Lama twice while opposition leader, and last time the spiritual leader visited he met then deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton because Clark was out of the country.
Opposition Leader John Key was yet to decide if he will meet the Dalai Lama, a spokesman said, but foreign affairs spokesman for the opposition, Murray McCully, will meet the religious leader.
The Green Party's foreign affairs spokesman Keith Locke has criticised Clark for failing to make a decision on meeting the Dalai Lama.
"Our prime minister has got to be at least as strong as John Howard, who is proceeding to meet the Dalai Lama despite hostility from Beijing," Locke said. "Our country can't be seen to put good economic relations with China, and a free trade deal, ahead of the human rights of the Tibetan people."
Source: AAP<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->Australia also seemed to be hesitating a while back, but it seems it's decided to meet the Dalai Lama after all:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200...948811.htm
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin--><b>Howard will meet Dalai Lama</b>
<b>June 12, 2007</b>
[Photo: The Dalai Lama is expected to meet the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader while in Australia. (File photo) (ABC TV) ]
Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd are both expected to meet the Dalai Lama during his visit to Australia.
Mr Howard had previously said he needed to check his <b>diary</b> but his office has now confirmed the two will meet later in the week.
Mr Rudd is also expected to meet the Tibetan spiritual leader but a time has not been set.
The Dalai Lama has given a speech to the National Press Club in Canberra today and will be given a reception at Parliament House later this afternoon.
He says it does not matter to him if he meets Mr Howard during his visit or not.
He has told the National Press Club he has no political agenda to discuss during his visit.
"If I have the opportunity of meeting the Prime Minister, perhaps - I consider him as an old friend - I will be happy," he said.
"If not, it doesn't matter. On this table, I heard the Prime Minister may receive me, so ask the Prime Minister's office."
Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer accused Mr Rudd earlier today of playing politics over a meeting with the Dalai Lama.
Speaking on ABC Radio's AM program, Mr Downer questioned Mr Rudd's motivation.
"He said this year that he wouldn't meet the Dalai Lama and then two days later, he said he would," he said.
"I think it just is a reflection of the fact that Mr Rudd just plays politics the whole time."
The Australia Tibet Council wants Mr Rudd to use the meeting to support greater autonomy for Tibet.
Council chairman George Farley congratulated Mr Rudd on AM today.
"I would like Kevin Rudd to say, 'We will use our influence subtly, gently, not in any kind of bullying way. We will use whatever influence we have to raise the issue of Tibet with the Chinese,'" he said.
Speech
In his speech today, the Dalai Lama urged Australia to stand firm with China on the issue of human rights.
His holiness says Australia must be honest with the country if it wishes to be a true friend.
"There are certain principles such as human rights and also democracy, rule of law, free press - these things you should stand firm on," he said.
"So that means you are a true friend of China. Whatever they have done, you say, 'Oh good, wonderful,' then the Chinese themselves eventually lose their faith."<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->