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Dalai Lama: Merkel is a friend
21/11/2007 19:30 - (SA)
Tokyo - The Dalai Lama said on Wednesday he met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel earlier this year as a friend after China complained that the landmark encounter had damaged ties with Berlin.
The exiled Tibetan leader also said he was not bothered that he could not see leaders on a current visit to Japan, which unlike many Western countries has refused official contact with him.
Merkel on September 23 became the first German chancellor to meet with the Dalai Lama.
China, which sent troops into Tibet in 1950, cancelled several gatherings with Germany in protest and said on Tuesday that relations were "seriously damaged" after Merkel publicly stood by her decision.
The Dalai Lama told reporters he first met Merkel when she was leader of the opposition.
"I feel she kept human spirits, friendship. If she's become the chancellor, she is the same human being," he said in English.
Hardliners 'are suspicious'
"So when I met her in Berlin, I mentioned that I came to see you as one of your friends. I appreciated she kept a human, spiritual friendship," he said.
US President George W Bush also met the Dalai Lama last month in Washington, where the US Congress also bestowed on him the Congressional Gold Medal - the highest civilian award it can give.
The Dalai Lama, who fled his homeland in 1959 for India following a failed uprising, again denied Beijing's charges he is a separatist, saying he wants autonomy within China.
"Many sensible Chinese fully support our approach, but hardliners fear and also are suspicious" that Tibetans are seeking independence, the Dalai Lama said.
"I think the whole world knows our side is not seeking independence. The only problem is they (hardliners) are always suspicious," he said.
'No problem'
Japan has uneasy ties with China due to wartime history and refused even to provide security to the Dalai Lama.
But the 72-year-old monk said he had only come to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Japan Buddhist Federation.
"Firstly, the main purpose of this trip is non-political. And I always do not want to create any inconvenience to anybody," the Dalai Lama said.
"So no problem," he said with a smile.
- AFP
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