Norway and the Dalai Lama Dilemma

By Annie Padwick / May 4, 2014;

Tibet’s leader His Holiness the Dalai Lama being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in Oslo, Norway, in December 1989

The Dalai Lama’s planned visit to Norway on May 7 – 8 marks 25 years since he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in the country’s capital. Yet in a move which some have labelled “putting salmon exports before peace” Foreign Minister Børge Brende has announced that no government ministers or authorities will meet the Tibetan spiritual leader during his visit. China has twice condemned the planned visit, saying it is opposed to any country giving a platform to the Dalai Lama’s views, and Norway does not want to further damage an already icy relationship.

Liu Xiabo
Photo: Wikipedia

When the Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to Chinese dissident Liu Xiaobo in 2010, China froze diplomatic and economic relations. The backlash saw Chinese demand for Norwegian salmon drop dramatically from 92% of Norway’s total export market to only 29% and since then Norway has been working hard to reduce tensions between the countries.

The Dalai Lama’s visit has drawn mass support from the Norwegian people. All 2,000 tickets for the Dalai Lama’s two public events sold out within 24 hours and a live steam has been arranged to accommodate further guests. A poll in the Norwegian newspaper VG showed half of all Norwegians believe the government is cowardly for not meeting the Dalai Lama, with six out of ten respondents saying they think a meeting should still be arranged. Some critics have called for Norway’s King Harald to meet the Nobel Peace Prize winner instead.

Protest in Oslo
Photo: Tibet.net

Hundreds of citizens gathered at the Norwegian parliament to show support for the Dalai Lama’s visit and their outrage that their government is bowing to China over the wishes of the Norwegian people. Ann Kristin Espejord, one of the rally’s organisers, said, “We want the Dalai Lama to know that he is warmly welcome in Norway, and we are proud that he’s coming. We want the world to still know that we are a free people, and we expect that our politicians now stop and think about this.”