fromt http://www.tibet.com

-----

His Holiness The Dalai Lama To Visit Switzerland

Inaugurates Tibet Exhibition and Meets with Basel and Zurich State Leaders

Geneva, 24 April - His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the spiritual and political leader of the six million Tibetan people, will pay a short visit to Switzerland from 5-7 May this year. This is His Holiness the Dalai Lama's seventeenth visit to the country since 1973. The Tibetan leader made His last visit to the country in August 1999.

During the two-day visit to Switzerland, on 6 May His Holiness the Dalai Lama will inaugurate a new Tibet Exhibition at the Basel Culture Museum, at the official invitation of the Basel State and City Governments. A unique and rich collection of Tibetan artefacts, which will be exhibited for the first time to the public, was donated to the Basel Culture Museum by a philanthropic family. The exhibition, "Tibet- Buddhas, Gods, Saints", will remain a permanent exhibit at the Museum. The inauguration ceremony of the Tibet exhibition will be addressed by H. E. Mrs. Ruth Dreifuss, the Interior Minister of Switzerland.

On 5 May, after being hosted to an official luncheon by Basel State and City Governments, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, will be received by the Basel Cathedral with a Welcome Speech by Minister-Priest Franz Christ following which the Tibetan Leader will give a Public Talk to the citizens of Basel city. A Meet with the Press with His Holiness the Dalai Lama is scheduled at the Basel Culture Museum after this public address.

On 6 May, prior to the inauguration ceremony of the Tibet Exhibition, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will also be welcomed at an official reception by Mrs. Barbara Schneider, President of Basel State and City Governments. Mrs. Schneider and the Tibetan leader are expected to exchange short remarks at the function which will be attended by all the high-ranking officials of the Basel State and City governments.

Later in the afternoon, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be received in Zurich at an official luncheon by Dr. Markus Notter, the President of the Zurich State Government. Following a welcome speech by Mr. Fuhrer, the Tibetan leader, will make a short address to high-rankings officials of the Zurich State and City governments present at the luncheon.

In the last two engagements of the current Swiss Visit, in the afternoon of 6 May, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will visit an ongoing exhibition on Tibet at the Ethnography Museum of Zurich University. Thereafter, His Holiness the Dalai Lama will speak to the Tibetan Community in Switzerland at the Zurich University.

On 7 May, His Holiness the Dalai Lama, will leave to the United States of America for a three-week visit.

Issued by Tibet Bureau, Geneva

-----