Merkel, Dalai Lama Meet in Berlin Over China's Objection

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Tibet's exiledfor its repression of religion and human rights abuses in
spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, have held private talksTibet.
in Berlin over the objections of China.Ms. Merkel and the Dalai Lama first met in 2005 when
Ms. Merkel's spokesman issued a statement Sundayshe was Germany's opposition political leader. But
saying the chancellor assured the Dalai Lama of hertoday's meeting was his first with a German head of
support for his efforts to preserve Tibet's culturalgovernment.
identity, and for his non-violent pursuit of religious andThe Dalai Lama said Saturday in the German
cultural autonomy.newspaper Sueddeutsche Zeitung he does not believe
The statement said the 72-year-old Dalai Lamahis meeting with Ms. Merkel will have a lasting negative
emphasized the peaceful, non-violent nature of hiseffect on Sino-German relations. He called China's
work, which he said does not include Tibet'sattitude an "arrogance of power," and he accused
independence from China.Beijing of meddling in Germany's domestic affairs.
Today's landmark meeting between Chancellor MerkelChina on Saturday canceled Sunday's scheduled
and the Dalai Lama took place over the objections ofmeeting with senior German justice ministry officials in
China, which regularly accuses the Buddhist holy manMunich for what it called, "technical reasons."
of secretly promoting Tibetan independence.Some information for this report provided by AFP, AP
Human rights organizations have long criticized Chinaand Reuters.