Canada Publicly Welcomes Dalai Lama, Defies China

By REUTERS
Published: October 29, 2007
Filed at 4:58 p.m. ET

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government defied China on Monday, proceeding with public meetings with the Dalai Lama and criticizing Beijing's efforts to prevent the talks.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper hosted the Tibetan spiritual leader in his office in Parliament, with television cameras and photographers present, and presented him with a maple-leaf scarf.
"I hope that the entire world gets the message that attacking a 72-year-old pacifist Buddhist monk, who advocates nothing more than cultural autonomy for his people, is counterproductive," junior cabinet minister Jason Kenney, who attended the meeting, told reporters.
In 2004, then-Prime Minister Paul Martin met the Dalai Lama privately at the home of the Roman Catholic archbishop of Ottawa, but the venues were upgraded to government buildings for his current visit.
"I don't care. The important (thing) is meeting (in) person. That I consider is the most important," said the Dalai Lama, wearing a maroon and saffron robe.
"So whether meeting (the) prime minister in the office or private house doesn't matter, so long as (it is) a meeting with people face to face."
The Dalai Lama was also scheduled to meet with Governor General Michaelle Jean, representative of Canada's head of state, Queen Elizabeth. Earlier on Monday, he met Kenney, secretary of state for multiculturalism, at the Department of Heritage.
The Dalai Lama -- who was granted honorary Canadian citizenship in June -- is also meeting leaders of Canada's opposition parties on Tuesday, though this time in a hotel.
The Chinese embassy would not answer phone calls but in a statement to the Globe and Mail newspaper the Chinese Foreign Ministry denounced the Dalai Lama as a separatist who operates under the guise of religion.
"China has on many occasions made solemn representations to the Canadian side on the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama," it said.
"We call on the Canadian side to clearly understand the nature of the Dalai Lama's separatist activities and treat seriously China's serious concerns, and not to allow the Dalai Lama to visit, not allow him to use Canadian territory for activities to split China, and not to do anything to harm Sino-Canadian relations."
U.S. President George W. Bush and leaders of Congress gave the Dalai Lama the Congressional Gold Medal in a packed ceremony in the U.S. Capitol on October 17.
China canceled an annual human rights dialogue with Germany to show its displeasure with German Chancellor Angela Merkel's meeting last month with the Dalai Lama.

What is the big oredeal with the Dalai Lama visiting on the Canadian side? Whats up with China? Why all the controversy? Could someone please elaborate ?