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German chancellor welcomes China's offer of talks with Dalai Lama

Other News Materials 26 April 2008 12:18 (UTC +04:00)

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has welcomed Beijing's offer to meet representatives of the Dalai Lama, expressing the wish that this will lead to a successful Olympic Games, in remarks released Saturday, dpa reported.

Merkel told the Sunday edition of the mass-circulation Bild newspaper that she hoped the Chinese move would "open the way to a peaceful and successful holding of the Olympic Games."

Merkel's private meeting with the Tibetan leader in September led to a chill in relations between Berlin and Beijing that ended only in January after intense German diplomatic efforts.

The Dalai Lama, who has a strong following in Germany, is due to visit again in mid-May, making a series of addresses with human rights a central theme.

China's crackdown on Tibetan and other protestors ahead of the August Beijing Olympics has provoked international protest.

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