Published by: World Tibet Network News, Tuesday, May 28 1996

Source: `Focus', Munich, in German 26 May 96

Germany's Chancellor's Office and Foreign Ministry are urging the Friedrich Naumann Foundation to refrain from a planned conference with the Tibetan government-in-exile, the German journal `Focus' reported. The foundation, which is close to the FDP (Free Democratic Party), wants to organize the second international conference of Tibetan support groups in mid-June in Bonn. The Dalai Lama wants to attend the meeting.

The Chinese government is putting pressure on Bonn "via many channels" , the report says. China is threatening to expel representatives of the foundation. "Now the Chancellor's Office and the Foreign Ministry expect that the Friedrich Naumann Foundation will at least cancel the invitation to the Tibetan government in exile," the report concluded.