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

Text of report by Finnish radio

[Announcer] Finnish Environment Minister Pekka Haavisto intends to meet the religious leader of Tibet, the Dalai Lama, despite the fact that the Chinese embassy in Finland expressed protests yesterday [24th May]. Haavisto says that he has studied the matter and decided that this meeting can take place. Haavisto commented on the matter at the party congress of the Green Party in Vaasa [western Finland].

[Haavisto] I have an invitation from the Finnish Lapp Assembly to attend their meeting in Enontekioe [in Finnish Lapland] on Sunday [26th May 96]. According to information I have received, the Dalai Lama, who is touring the Nordic countries, will attend the same meeting. Of course I have investigated whether it is possible for me to attend, and it is possible. So tomorrow, apparently, I will have to leave the party congress to attend the meeting of the Finnish Lapp Assembly. I have seen that the Chieese reaction in different countries has been similar; apparently this is part of their plans concerning the tours of the Dalai Lama. It would, perhaps, be a surprise if there was no reaction, and as far as I know, there has been a similar reaction in the other Nordic countries. And as far as I remember, when the Dalai Lama last visited Finland in 1988, this debate also took place.

[Announcer] Haavisto will meet the Dalai Lama in Enontekioe tomorrow.

Source: YLE radio, Helsinki, in Finnish 0900 gmt 25 May 96