Pressrelease: Dalai Lama hopes to return to Tibet

The Washington Times[Tuesday, June 14, 2005 23:58]
The Dalai Lama expects China to let him return to his native Tibet within his lifetime, he told a conference in Sweden.

The Tibetan spiritual leader, speaking Monday during a psychotherapy conference in Goteberg, Sweden, said that discussions with the Chinese government on Tibet were moving forward, the South China Morning Post reported Tuesday.

"We are discussing the Tibet issue and not only my return," the Dalai Lama said. "We are not looking for separation. We are willing to stay within the People's Republic of China, but our Tibetan culture must be respected. We want to develop a meaningful autonomy within the country."

Commenting on the Tibetan's remarks Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao told reporters, "The Dalai Lama is a politician in exile disguised as a religious figure, and engages in separatist activities against China, and the Chinese government has expressed concerns over the issue to the Swedish government."

Liu added that China was open to dialogue with the Dalai Lama, if he "truly gives up advocating Tibet independence" and publicly declares that Tibet and Taiwan are inalienable parts of China.

"Then we shall contact him for negotiations," Liu said.