French foreign minister says Dalai Lama could be invited to Brussels 'shortly'

by Dave Keating | April 1, 2008 at 06:11 am | 230 views | add comment

In a controversial move the French foreign minister has said the Dalai Lama could be invited to speak in Brussels. Crucially, it would be the European Union doing the inviting, which would land all of the member states in hot water with China. However as long as they're doing it together, they have stregth in numbers and would likely not face reprocutions from the emerging superpower.

The European Union could invite the Dalai Lama to Brussels, France's foreign minister said Tuesday.

Bernard Kouchner told RTL radio Tibet's exiled spiritual leader could visit "shortly." Slovenia, which holds the EU's rotating presidency, must first extend the invitation on behalf of the bloc's 27 members.

The European Parliament has already invited the Dalai Lama to speak to the assembly in Strasbourg, France. Hans-Gert Poettering, president of the assembly, said last week the invitation was open-ended.

China — staunchly opposed to any talks between the Dalai Lama and foreign government officials — claims the Dalai Lama's followers orchestrated the strife that broke out last month in the capital, Lhasa, when peaceful marches by Tibetan monks turned violent. Leaders worldwide have condemned China's harsh response.