ATC has issued a media release congratulating Kevin Rudd for his decision to meet the Dalai Lama and calling on Prime Minister John Howard make time for a meeting.

TIBETAN LEADER ARRIVES IN CANBERRA TODAY, KEVIN RUDD MEETING SCHEDULED

The Australia Tibet Council has urged Prime Minister John Howard to stop procrastinating and find time in his schedule to meet the Dalai Lama.

ATC Chairman George Farley said that with the Dalai Lama due to arrive in Canberra today, it was time for the Prime Minister to announce a meeting.

“We understand that the Prime Minister may have been delaying an announcement in order to reduce criticism from the Chinese government, but with only a few days of the Dalai Lama’s Australian tour remaining, it’s beginning to look as if Mr Howard is actively avoiding a meeting.”

Mr Farley congratulated Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd for his decision to meet the Dalai Lama tomorrow.

“Given Mr Rudd’s expertise and experience in Chinese issues, we believe that this will be an interesting and productive meeting for both of them.”

Mr Farley said that most Australians supported the Dalai Lama and would give Mr Rudd credit for meeting him in the face of Chinese opposition.

The Australia Tibet Council has asked the Opposition Leader to actively support the Dalai Lama’s efforts to achieve genuine autonomy for Tibet within the People’s Republic of China. There have been five rounds of dialogue between representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government in recent years, but to date these have not developed into formal negotiations.

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