London, June 26: Tibet's spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, is planning to visit Britain next year, the London office of his government in exile said today. He is to give a public talk at the Temenos Academy in the British capital on May 28, 2004, then go to Scotland for a week of Buddhist teachings and other engagements in Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dunfermline.

While in Edinburgh the Dalai Lama is to lead a "time for reflection" period in the Scottish Parliament and participate in what organisers are calling "a major peace event."
Envoys for the Dalai Lama returned to his base in Dharamsala, India last week from Beijing after a second round of talks with Chinese officials in less than a year on the future of Tibet.

Yesterday it was announced that British Prime Minister Tony Blair would be making an official visit to the Chinese capital this year, though dates have yet to be revealed.

Bureau Report