Dalai Lama receives standing ovation

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, a personal friend of the late Václav Havel, spoke in Prague on Saturday to an audience of several hundred people, giving a lecture on the importance of compassion and respect. His arrival was welcomed by a standing ovation and during his speech he mentioned Mr Havel several times. The talk was punctuated with laughter, to which the audience reacted with applause. Mid-way, time was made for a question period for members of the audience. The Dalai Lama was invited to Prague by organisers of the Forum 2000 conference, this year focussing on societies in transition.

The 17th Forum 2000 officially opens on Sunday. More than 100 personalities from all over the world are expected to attend, including Burmese opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi, a Nobel Peace Prize holder, and former South African president Frederik de Klerk, also a Nobel Peace Prize laureate.