Chinese Embassy Galled by Dalai Lama Visit
Predictably angry words concerning the Dalai Lama's three-day visit to Estonia and his meetings with government officials were issued by the Chinese Embassy today, August 16, the day of the Tibetan spiritual leader's arrival.
"By allowing the Dalai Lama to visit Estonia and arranging official meetings with him, Estonia will seriously violate the basic principles of international relations," the embassy told ERR in a press statement, adding that welcoming him was "contrary to the current environment of friendly bilateral relations, definitely hurts the feelings of the Chinese people and harms Sino-Estonian relations."
Repeating in no uncertain terms its government's stance that Tibet is an integral part of China, the embassy said that China opposes any foreign leader's meeting with the Dalai Lama "in any format."
"It is requested that Estonian side seriously consider China's stance, immediately adopt measures to cancel the official meeting and stop interfering in China's internal affairs," the statement read.
During his stay, the Dalai Lama is scheduled to meet with Defense Minister Mart Laar, Interior Minister Ken-Marti Vaher, Minister of Economics Affairs Juhan Parts and Minister of Education Jaak Aaviksoo, as well as members of the Parliamentary Group for Tibet.
He is also to meet with President Toomas Hendrik Ilves in an unofficial capacity, the president's office has now confirmed.
Prime Minister Andrus Ansip and Speaker of Parliament Ene Ergma have opted not to meet the Dalai Lama.
China routinely pressures governments and institutions around the world not to receive the Dalai Lama who, until his resignation in March, was the head of the Central Tibetan Administration, commonly referred to as the "Tibetan Government in Exile."
Earlier this month Sven Grünberg, director of the Buddhism Institute that is organizing the visit, told ERR radio that Estonia should not fear that meeting the Dalai Lama will result in a cooling of Estonian-Chinese relations.
"Estonia could be the country to actually implement a values-based policy, as strangely enough or without wishing for it, the Dalai Lama has become an indicator of values policy throughout the world," Grünberg said.
Steve Roman