Dalai Lama on five day visit to Germany

DHARAMSALA:Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama began his five day visit to Germany on Thursday, a spokesman of the Tibetan government-in-exile said here.

"At the invitation of the Tibet's Initiative Deutschland, Germany's largest Tibet support group, His Holiness the Dalai Lama is on a visit to Germany from May 15 to May 19," the spokesman said.

"The Dalai Lama will visit four major German cultural and historical cities besides  capital Berlin. This is his 33rd visit to Germany. The theme of his visit this time is 'No peace without human rights'," he added.

The spokesman said that Roland Koch, the chief minister of Germany's Hese state, called on the Dalai Lama on his arrival in Frankfurt early Thursday.

At the invitation of the German parliament's foreign affairs committee, the Dalai Lama will address its members. He will also speak to the committee for human rights.

The Dalai Lama will address a Tibet solidarity rally in front of the famous Brandenburg Gate in Berlin before flying to London May 20.