05 June 2008
China quake relief may delay talks
(PTI) The next round of talks between envoys of Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and China, scheduled for 11 June 2008, might be postponed because of Beijing's preoccupation with relief efforts for earthquake victims, an aide to the Dalai Lama has said. "China has expressed difficulties in holding talks on 11 June because of the massive earthquake in that country", Tenzing Takhla, secretary to the Dalai Lama, told the Press Trust of India (PTI). "Though 11 June has yet not been fully ruled out, we are working on alternate dates too", he added. Takhla said that the date for the second round of talks, between envoys of the Dalai Lama and Chinese officials, was decided much before the earthquake had happened. Asked if the alternative dates would be within June, he said: "We are working out on it".