Merkel Right to Meet Dalai Lama, Readers Say

The following comments reflect the views of DW-WORLD.DE readers. Not all reader comments have been published. DW-WORLD.DE reserves the right to edit for length and appropriateness of content.

German Chancellor Merkel's willingness and announcement to meet with his holiness the Dalai Lama is a step well appreciated and acknowledged by many righteous thinking people. It is time world leaders and governments openly support and encourage democratization and principles of human rights for all and deplore totalitarian regimes like China. The Dalai Lama represents the voice of Tibetan people as well as those silent voices around the globe. A strong voice by all world leaders could lead to freedom and democracy for all suppressed people around the corners of the globe. -- Tsering Norzom, Canada

The Dalai Lama is accustomed to criticism from China and takes it in stride

I find it very interesting that the Chinese don't mind having contact with western countries as long as there are financial gains to be made. When it comes to the Dalai Lama visiting these same countries, the Chinese are very aggressive in their statements about receiving the Dalai Lama. Why is China so opposed to other countries having contact to the Dalai Lama? That is a childlike mentality and based on its own fear. The Dalai Lama is just one simple person, who expresses his opinion like many other people in this world. If the Chinese are so correct in their handling of the situation in Tibet what are they afraid of? -- Frank Curia, Switzerland

Why do Germans elect eccentric leaders? Chancellor Merkel's decision to meet the Dalai Lama was a huge mistake. It will probably cost her the chancellery. What was she thinking -- I am so popular that my massive ego permits me to meet anyone even though no other German chancellor would meet the Dalai Lama? Is she hoping some human rights group will give her an award, even if it costs Germany its close relationship with China? -- Rob W., US

Readers said Merkel should choose which world leaders she meets

I believe heads of countries have the right to meet whoever they feel is necessary. All moves by the head of state for the most part are political. The main reasons may not always be able to be revealed, but you must have trust in your leader. -- James Cabble, US

Either receiving or rejecting a visitor is the choice of a nation. Is it not childish on the part of China to make demands on nations that intend to receive Dalai Lama? China has a heritage of culture and diplomacy, yet behaves in this petty minded, shameless school-boyish manner. Full marks to Chancellor Angela Merkel. She is right and has the guts to stand by the principle that she would accept anyone she wishes. -- Ben Aloysius, Australia

Nothing but good can come from such a relationship. The Chinese did nothing to enhance relations with Tibet. The Chinese need to learn some tolerance in the interests of harmony and better relations with the western world. -- John Cran, New Zealand

The relationship to China is as important as any relationship Germany has with any other nation. How dare the Chinese government criticize the German government for who its leader wants to meet! I do not believe that neither the German president nor any German chancellor tells a Chinese government official who to meet. This visit will not, and should not, harm the relations between Germany and China but shows China that human rights issues are serious business items on the agenda of the German government and can not be removed through any political threats. --Jens-Dieter Stahmer, US

Maybe it will damage the relations but it was the right thing to do. In the end she wins. -- Claire Colin, Poland

Merkel met with several world leaders at the G8 and no one complained

I would like to highly commend German Chancellor Angela Merkel for agreeing to meet with his holiness the Dalai Lama. As China is to host the 2008 Olympics, this presents a great opportunity, and also a moral obligation, for the international community to put pressure on the Chinese government to stop human rights abuses in China and Tibet, to grant the Tibetan people genuine autonomy and the land which is rightfully theirs, and to allow the Dalai Lama to return to his homeland, as a free monk returning to a free country. Chancellor Merkel, I would be really interested to hear your views on this. --Helen Jones, Australia

It's a sad day when a democratic country's leader gets praised for her "controversial" meeting with a respected religious leader and intellectual who espouses peace. Why is it "bold" and "controversial?" Because a communist dictatorship that is the world's largest human rights violator and about to be the world's largest economy doesn't want it to happen. Who does China think it is to tell our leaders who they shouldn't meet? When we westerners tell them what they should do about human rights, democracy, the environment, etc, we get scolded by our pro-China business community. -- Peter Schuller, Canada