Country has not denied visa to Dalai Lama yet: South African envoy

New Delhi: Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, has not been denied a South African visa yet and the matter is still under consideration, the country’s envoy said on Friday.

Speaking to women journalists at the Indian Women’s Press Corps, South African High Commissioner to India FK Morule said he has “heard” that the Dalai Lama has cancelled his visit and he will be meeting a representative of the spiritual leader here Saturday.

“No decision has been taken on the Dalai Lama’s visa application yet,” Morule said in reply to a question by IANS, adding that they hold the Nobel Peace Prize winner in high esteem and respect him.

“I am meeting his representative in Delhi tomorrow (Saturday). I have heard that the Dalai Lama has cancelled his programme. If that is the case it will be a different story,” he said.

“Countries have got national interest… that does not take away the respect they have for eminent people like the Dalai Lama,” he added.

The Dalai Lama had applied for a visa to South Africa on 27 August, in order to attend the 14th World Summit of Nobel Peace laureates to be held there in October.

Reports from Cape Town Thursday said South Africa has refused to grant a visa to the Dalai Lama.

IANS