Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday, August 14, 1996

"The Australian", Wednesday, August 14, 1996

By David Nason and Richard McGregor in Hong Kong

The Prime Minister, Mr Howard, last night opened the door for a meeting with the Dalai Lama when the controversial Tibetan spiritual leader visit Australia next month.

News of Mr Howard's decision was broken by Greens Senator-elect Dr Bob Brown, who had Budget discussions with the Prime Minister in Sydney yesterday.

"He (Mr Howard) indicated he felt it was the right thing for him to be doing," Dr Brown said.

"He said if he was in the country it would be his intention to meet with the Dalai Lama."

A spokesman said Mr Howard "would consider a request for an appointment" with the Dalai Lama, who has led international condemnation of Chinese human rights abuses in Tibet.

But Mr Howard's willingness to publicly entertain a meeting is in defiance of Department of Foreign Affairs advice that such formal recognition of the Dalai Lama would offend China and put strains on Australia's bilateral relationship with the Asian superpower.

China last night had no response to Mr Howard's comments, but has reacted strongly in the past when foreign leaders and governments have given what it regards as too resounding a welcome to the Dalai Lama.

China cancelled an exchange of ministerial visits with Germany earlier this year after Bonn agreed to allow the holding of a conference of Tibetan support groups from around the world.

However, neither Chancellor Kohl nor British Prime Minister John Major met the Dalai Lama on visit to Germany and England this year.

In the United States, President Bill Clinton "dropped in" on the meeting between the Dalai Lama and Vice-president Al Gore last year, a diplomatic device used to downgrade the level of contact with controversial foreign visitors.

Dr Brown said he had been "pleasantly surprised" by Mr Howard's attitude and claimed he had the Prime Minister's permission to release the information.

Dr Brown also said Mr Howard was aware that China would not be pleased if the meeting went ahead.

Mr Howard's spokesman last night refused to elaborate on the Prime Minister's reasons for his decision.

The spokesman also said it was "too hypothetical" when asked if the Dalai Lama would meet the acting prime minister should Mr Howard be overseas at the time of the visit.

In response to questions from Australian journalists in Beijing, China has warned Canberra that any official contacts with the Dalai Lama would be regarded as "support for his activities", but did not mention Mr Howard by name.

"The Chinese Government hopes that the Australian Government sets store by the friendly relations between the two cuntries and desisits from engaging in official contacts," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said.

This pro-forma statement from the Chinese is certain to be buttressed by strong protests by its diplomats in both Canberra and Beijing in private, and threats of retaliation.