Dharamshala: The Swiss-Tibetan Friendship Organization criticized on Tuesday the position of the Swiss Federal Council for refusing a meeting with Tibetan spiritual leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama during his visit to Switzerland next month said Kuwait News Agency. Under heavy pressures of communist regime of China, the Swiss government has weakened its response to the current strong Human Rights violations and suppression in Tibet.
Some members of the Swiss parliament expressed their disappointment in the Swiss decision, which uses the argument of the Chinese Government against the 74 years old Tibetan leader, His Holiness the Dalai Lama without defining a clear position for Switzerland on this issue.
The Swiss Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey announced yesterday that none of the Swiss federal council will meet Tibetan leader during his next visit to the country in April because of "scheduling reasons".
Calmy-Rey pointed out during a question time at the Parliament that China could see this meeting as an "encouragement to the Tibetan separatism".
"The Federal Council is aware that the Tibetan community in Switzerland attaches great importance to the anniversary celebration (of 50 years for Tibetans in Switzerland). Unfortunately none of the members of the provincial government will join the ceremony", said the Foreign Minister.
She announced that His Holiness the Dalai Lama has visited Switzerland several times and met a number of politicians and members of the Tibetan community there. .
Some analysts say that Switzerland is afraid of a strong reaction from China, one of its most important business partners.
