Prime Minister of Canada meets His Holiness   Canada's Prime Minister Steven Harper greets His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Ottawa on 29 October 2007 Ottawa, 30 October 2007: Prime Minister Stephen Harper met His Holiness the Dalai Lama at his Ottawa office, despite strong objections by China in hosting the Tibet's spiritual leader. Mr Harper became the first Canadian prime minister to meet His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Mr Harper said, he will not back down on speaking about human rights in China for the "almighty dollar." China has warned that the meeting will gravely undermine the relationship between China and Canada, echoing similar ubiquitous criticism against countries hosting His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Using violence to counter violence, sometimes it creates more complicated situations, His Holiness told a gathering of government officials at Parliament Hill in Ottawa before his meeting with Harper. "I think firstly it is my duty to express on behalf of many, many groups of people who suffer under human-rights violations," he said. "I want to tell (Harper) he is one of the leaders who speaks very strongly about human-rights issues. "My main commitment is promotion of human values, promotion of religious harmony - wherever I go I speak about these two things." Secretary of State for Multiculturalism Jason Kenney also hosted His Holiness at his government office in Gatineau, Quebec. --Inputs from Associated Press (AP)

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Last updated: 31-Oct-2007