by Jack Taylor

SYDNEY, Sept 16 (AFP) - The Dalai Lama warned Monday that Tibetans faced "cultural genocide" over the next 10 to 15 years and asked Australia to help persuade China to agree to talks on a political solution.

On the second full day of a 15-day religious mission heavily laced with politics, the spiritual leader-in-exile carried the message to journalists here that time was running out for Tibet and it badly needed help.

"Intentionally or unintentionally, cultural genocide is taking place in our country, so that is my most (serious) concern," he said in a radio interview.

"If the present situation remains for another 10, 15 years then there's a real danger to the Tibetan nation and its cultural heritage. Its time is running out."

The Nobel laureate said he had already asked Australian Foreign Minister Alexander Downer during a meeting on Saturday to help start meaningful negotiations between China and Tibetans.

He described his visit as "spiritual and to some extent educational," but was hopeful of meeting Prime Minister John Howard also.

The 61-yeard-old Dalai Lama also told a news conference in Melbourne he would appeal to Howard to help broker meaningful negotiations with Beijing.

Howard, who left here Monday on a six-day visit to Indonesia and Japan, is expected after he returns on Saturday to meet the Dalai Lama privately, but has not confirmed this.

However, the Dalai Lama said he would understand if Howard heeded warnings from Beijing against official contact, adding: "I am hopeful that we can talk but I don't want to create any embarrassment for anyone."

He appreciated that nations such as Australia needed to maintain good relations with China. "Everybody is taking care to have good relations with China," he said.

The Dalai Lama, who fled Tibet in 1959 following an abortive uprising against Chinese rule, established the Tibetan government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India, where he now lives.

In 1989 he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his peaceful struggle to liberate Tibet.

He delivered a message of tolerance, diversity and peace to about 6,000 devotees at a pan-Buddhist festival in Melbourne on Sunday. He will leave Melbourne for Canberra on Tuesday and on Friday will return here for the tour highlight, a nine-day initiation ceremony known as the Kalachakra.

He told ABC radio that Tibetan Buddhist culture was facing "a threat of extinction" and if it survived this "difficult period" then not only the culture would benefit, but a much larger Asian community including millions of young Chinese would benefit.

But a political solution was required to end the crisis. "Of course, historically Tibet is independent nation," he said. "The best way to solve our problem is to through negotiation and negotiation means genuine compromise in spirit of reconciliation."

His position had been consistent and remained so in spite of setback and a worsening situation in Tibet.

"As soon as some positive indication come from Chinese government I'm ready to negotiate without any precondition any time, anywhere."

China, he believed, had to find a constructive way to solve the problem. "Genuine stability must develop only through heart, through mind, not under gun."