DALAI LAMA'S VISIT TO EUROPE AND CROATIA POSTPONED FOR SECURITY REASONS

ZAGREB/SPLIT, Oct 5 (Hina) - The office of the Dalai Lama near the Indian city of Dharamsala has announced that the visit of the Tibetan spiritual and political leader to France, the Czech Republic, Slovenia and Croatia, scheduled for 10-23 October, has been postponed. The office of the Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso on Thursday evening notified committees in charge of organising his visit to Split and Zagreb that his trip to Europe had to be postponed due to increasing tensions at the international level caused by the recent terrorist attacks in the United States and a threat of the break-out of war in the part of the world where the Dalai Lama was temporarily living, the Zagreb-based committee reported on Friday. The Dharamsala-based office added the cabinet of the Tibetan government in exile and other Tibetan officials as well as some worried Indian and Western friends had asked His Highness to delay his tour to Europe. The Zagreb committee quoted the Dalai Lama's representative for central and southeastern Europe as saying the trip would likely take place in the next six months. Cultural events, scheduled to take place in Croatia ahead of the visit of the Dalai Lama, will be held as planned. (hina) ms