Parliament Criticizes Prime Minister’s Refusal to Receive Dalai Lama

A majority of Parliament wants Prime Minister Balkenende to appear before the body to explain why he is refusing to meet the Dalai Lama when he visits the Netherlands next week. Alexander Pechtold of the left-of-center D-66 party said: “It shows that Balkenende isn’t a great leader and is unable to function in the world theatre.” Geert Wilders of the Freedom Party (PVV) said: “If he were taking human rights seriously, he wouldn’t let himself be intimidated by the Chinese. It shows that Balkenende has no backbone.”
http://www.telegraaf.nl/binnenland/3951237/__Premier_op_matje_om_dalai_lama__.htm
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