Dalai Lama To Be Given Human Rights Award In Slovakia

from www.dalailama.com

5 September 2009

BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA,  (TASR) - Tenzin Gyatso, better-known as the Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, will visit Slovakia between September 8-10 and will receive the Jan Langos Award from the Foundation of the same name that honours fighters for human rights, officials of the Jan Langos Foundation said on Friday.

The Dalai Lama is to be honoured on Wednesday morning at the Pavol Orszagh Hviezdoslav Theatre in Bratislava where he will be treated to a composition by Slovak musician and organ player Marian Varga.

On the same day at the Pasienky sports hall he will deliver a public speech and answer questions of his own choosing from the audience.

The Foundation has invited representatives of both Government and Opposition, but only the latter has confirmed that it will take part.

Premier Robert Fico said that he won't attend the event either as head of the Government or as leader of the Smer-SD party, while the president and parliamentary chairman have yet to respond.

The Foundation in the past presented the award to Velvet Revolution protagonist Fedor Gal, while last year awards went to former Hungarian president Arpad Goncz and posthumously to Greek-Catholic bishop Pavol Gojdic.