If I didn't know better, I would swear the EUSraeli empire is losing the WWIII. Thank God I have a propaganda pre$$ to clear things up.
"Norway shuns Dalai Lama, hoping to mend China ties" by Mark Lewis | Associated Press May 08, 2014
STAVANGER, Norway — Norway’s decision to ignore the Dalai Lama’s visit to Oslo this week to avoid upsetting China has drawn criticism in a country that considers itself a beacon of human rights.
Unlike on his previous visits, no government officials will meet the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader during his three-day stay, which started Wednesday.
The Dalai Lama has been seeking greater autonomy for Tibet within China and urges nonviolence in the struggle against Beijing, a key reason he was awarded the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize. Beijing views him as an anti-Chinese separatist.
Norway’s Conservative-led government, which took power last year, has made it a priority to repair relations with China, frozen since jailed Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2010.
‘‘For close to four years there has been no contact on a political level between Norway and China,’’ Foreign Ministry spokesman Frode Andersen said. ‘‘Based on a thorough deliberation the government has decided there will be no meeting between Norwegian authorities and the Dalai Lama.”
China directed its anger at the Norwegian government even though the Nobel Peace Prize is given by an independent five-member committee appointed by Norway’s Parliament. Liu, serving an 11-year prison sentence for penning an appeal for democracy, was represented by an empty chair at the prize ceremony in Oslo.
Since then, Beijing has scrapped talks on a free trade agreement with Norway, beefed up restrictions on imports of Norwegian salmon, and in 2012 pointedly left Norway off a list of European countries offered visa-free travel to China.
High-profile meetings with the Dalai Lama would probably have damaged relations even more. But critics say oil-rich Norway can afford to stand up to China.
Not when they are holding trillions in Treasury bonds and the shale field production is peaking.
‘‘Money is not a problem for us, so economic isolation is not an argument,” said Ketil Kjenseth, an opposition lawmaker who plans to receive the Dalai Lama in Parliament.
During a 2000 visit to Norway, the Dalai Lama met with the king and the prime minister. In 2005, he met the prime minister and lawmakers. This year, President Obama received him at the White House.
This time, he is scheduled to meet with Buddhist monks, Lutheran and Catholic clerics, members of the Nobel committee, and lawmakers.
In Beijing, the Foreign Ministry said it was following the visit closely.
‘‘We hope that Norway can really respect China’s concerns, do more things that can help our two countries build mutual trust and take concrete actions to create favorable conditions for the improvement of bilateral ties,’’ spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
Cui Hongjian, a Europe expert from the China Institute of International Studies, said avoiding official meetings with the Dalai Lama won’t suffice. He said Norway needs to clearly recognize China’s sovereignty over Tibet and make an explanation about the 2010 peace prize that satisfies Beijing.
Some analysts say Norway may be compromising its principles. Helge Luraas, director of the Centre for International and Strategic Analysis, said Norway could have sought concessions, “but it rolled over.”
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I always wondered what was under that cloak.
