Tibetan spiritual leader begins six-day visit скачать в хорошем качестве

Tibetan spiritual leader begins six-day visit

(15 May 2008) SHOTLIST 1. The Dalai Lama, exiled Tibetan spiritual leader, walking with Roland Koch, governor of the German federal state of Hesse (red tie) 2. Dalai Lama and Koch posing for cameras 3. Dalai Lama and Koch arriving at news conference 4. SOUNDBITE: (English) Dalai Lama, exiled Tibetan spiritual leader: "We made clear - as always - that we are not seeking independence. It is our own interest, People's Republic of China, huge country, now economically also rapidly developing, so as far as material development is concerned, it is our own interest (to) remain within the People's Republic of China. Since we have unique cultural heritage, including our language, and very rich Buddhist tradition, and dedicate environment, so we need genuine autonomy, which in the constitution of People's Republic of China actually is provided. Now we are seeking (it)." 5. Dalai Lama saying goodbye, media, he gets into car 6. Dalai Lama's convoy leaving STORYLINE The Dalai Lama landed in Frankfurt on Thursday to start a five-day tour of Germany, where his last visit sent German-Chinese relations into a spiral. This time, however, the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader will not be meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel - who is on a trip to Latin America. Instead, his trip is largely a speaking tour, sprinkled with meetings with politicians. Upon his arrival in Germany, the Dalai Lama reiterated that what he sought was "genuine autonomy" for Tibet and suggested it was in the region's interest to "remain within the People's Republic of China." "We are not seeking independence," he said at a news conference with Koch. China claims Tibet has been its territory for centuries, but many Tibetans say they have been effectively independent for most of that period. Protests started March 10 in the Tibetan capital, Lhasa, on the 49th anniversary of a failed uprising against Chinese rule. Events turned violent four days later, touching off demonstrations among Tibetans in three neighboring provinces. China - which has ruled the Himalayan region with a heavy hand since its communist-led forces invaded in 1959 - routinely protests meetings between foreign governments and the Dalai Lama. But the Dalai Lama's visit to Germany comes after China held informal talks with his representatives about the crackdown in Tibet. Koch hailed those talks as a success, and said that he hoped they would produce results soon. Merkel hosted the Dalai Lama in September in the Berlin chancellery - an encounter that underlined her willingness to publicly address awkward issues with China, but also exposed strains in her left-right governing coalition an infuriated Beijing, which cancelled several meetings between officials. Merkel spokesman Thomas Steg on Wednesday dismissed suggestions that the government was avoiding another meeting with the Dalai Lama this time. He pointed out that Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul would meet the Dalai Lama on Monday. The Dalai Lama plans to give four lectures, in Nuremberg, Bamberg, Bochum and Moenchengladbach, and a final speech Monday in front of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate. The 1989 Nobel Peace Prize laureate will also meet two state governors from Merkel's conservative party - starting Thursday with Hesse's Roland Koch and then North Rhine-Westphalia's Juergen Ruettgers - as well as Norbert Lammert, president of Germany's parliament Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...