Exiled Tibetan religious leader, the Dalai Lama, says he is still unsure whether Prime Minister John Howard has time to meet with him.
The Tibetan monk is in Australia for a series of sold-out public appearances but neither Mr Howard or opposition leader Kevin Rudd have made arrangements to meet with him through fear it might anger China.
The Dalai Lama arrived in Australia mid-last week, but when asked on the Nine Network on Sunday whether he knew if Mr Howard had time to meet with him, he replied: “No, I don’t know.
“There’s no indication so far.”
Asked why he thought it had been okay for Mr Howard to meet with him on a visit to Australia 10 years ago, but not today, the Dalai Lama said: “I don’t know – ask him.”
The 71-year-old said China often did not follow through on threats it made to foreign leaders who met with him.
The Dalai Lama last week said he understood why political leaders were reluctant to meet with him and said he was not concerned about it.
“My main interest is meeting with the public because my main concern is promotion of human values and promotion of religious harmony,” he said today.
The Dalai Lama has lived in exile in northern India since 1959.
