By DPA,
Paris : French President Nicolas Sarkozy will not meet the Dalai Lama during the latter’s upcoming visit to France, the Elysee Palace has said.
The Tibetan religious leader had given the current circumstances not requested a meeting with the French president, a palace statement said Wednesday.
According to Le Figaro, however, Sarkozy’s wife Carla Bruni will attend a religious ceremony led by the Dalai Lama for the opening of a Buddhist temple in Roqueredonde in southern France.
The Dalai Lama was scheduled to visit France in the coming week, where his agenda included conferences and spiritual gatherings with Tibetan exiles.
Sarkozy will Friday travel to the opening ceremony of the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Ties between France and China had previously been strained after chaotic scenes marred the French leg of the Olympic torch relay.