During the June 11-14 visit to the Swedish city of Gothenburg, His Holiness will address the 5th International Congress of Cognitive Psychotherapy on June 13. According to Ms. Lena Weiren, a close associate of the conference organizers, the conference is drawing a lot of attention because of the participation of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who in 1989 won the Nobel Peace Prize that helped to further popularize the Tibet issue and His Holiness? standing in the world.

?The tickets for the scientific event are almost all sold out. People from 40
countries and from all continents will attend,? Ms. Weiren informed this writer. ?I am excited about His Holiness?s visit here. Suddenly it seems so near. It is hard to believe that two years has passed so quickly since we started talking about this. When I think about His Holiness actually coming here my stomach feels a little jumpy..?,? said Ms. Weiren, who is a psychologist by profession.

The Congress participants, numbering about 1000 or so, will have the opportunity to hear His Holiness share his wisdom and interest in the commonality of Tibetan Buddhist philosophy and Western scientific knowledge when he enters into what the organiser?s call ?conversation? on the topic, ?Meeting of the Minds? to take place at the Gothenburg Convention Centre.

As for the June 12 pre-congress public event, where the Tibetan spiritual and temporal leader will enter into a dialogue with the Swedish Archbishop K.G. Hammar on the topic, ?Looking for Meaning in the Present World?, Ms. Weiren said the interest is great. This programme will take place at the well-known public event venue, the ?Goteborg Scandinavium?.

?Last week I bought a new dress (to wear when His Holiness arrives) and I found out that the shopkeeper is going to attend the public event.... So everybody is very interested!? Ms. Weiren wrote in her email.

While in Gothenburg, His Holiness will also be visiting the Museum of World Cultures on June 13 and on the request of the authorities will bless a sand mandala of the Buddha of Compassion that is currently being constructed by two Namgyal Monastery monks. The museum plans to have a live broadcast of His Holiness? visit and the making of the sand mandala on their website: (http:/webcam.varldskulturmuseet.se/view/index.shtml).

His Holiness? visit to Gothenburg is to be followed by a two-day visit to Norway?s capital Oslo, where on 15 June, His Holiness will give a public talk on ?Secular Ethics?. Amnesty International, Norway, and the Norwegian Tibet Committee are jointly hosting this event.

The Tibetan leader will also be meeting the Prime Minister, Mr. Kjell Magne Bondevik, and visit the Norwegian parliament, where Mr. Jorgen Kosmo, President of the Norwegian Parliament, will receive him. His Holiness will later meet with members of the parliament that has been organized by the Norwegian Parliamentary Group for Tibet.

On June 15, the Tibetan Nobel Laureate will visit the newly built Nobel Peace Center, where he will be welcomed by Prof. Geir Lundestad, Executive Director of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, and Mrs. Ericsen, the center?s director.

As it is not possible to help with the numerous media requests for interviews because of lack of time, an opportunity for the media to interact with His Holiness has been organized on June 14.

The Office of Tibet, London, which as the official agency of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe, is coordinating His Holiness? visit to Sweden and Norway is confident that the people in both the countries will benefit from this upcoming visit as evident from feedback received from the visit organisers.

?The organizers have been very enthusiastic in making sure that all the arrangements are in place and they also feel that His Holiness? visit will have a great impact on the public, both young and old, in their quest for more peace of mind and harmony,? says Mrs. Kesang Y. Takla, Representative of His Holiness the Dalai Lama for Northern Europe.

While referring to the growing popularity and demand for His Holiness? time and presence, she informs how because of limited time, many invitations had to be regrettably declined or kept pending on a waiting list for a future possible visit.

?Although there were requests from various organisations and individuals to address their events, because of time constraints it has not been possible to consider all the requests, including many from the media for interviews. However, we hope that the efforts being made by the visit organizers in making their events widely known to a wider audience will have the desired effect and benefit all those interested in coming to hear and see His Holiness,? says Mrs. Takla, who has been closely working with the upcoming visit organizers and had also visited both Gothenburg and Oslo.

Visit information report by:
Tsering Tashi (Mr)
Secretary & Press/Information Officer
Office of Tibet
1 Culworth Street
London NW8 7AF
Tel: 020 7722 5378 Fax: 020 77220362 Email: info@tibet.com Website: www.tibet.com