Norwegian Parliament cancels reception for Chinese Delegation
Phayul[Monday, April 27, 2009 18:24]
Dharamsala, April 27 – A luncheon reception by Norwegian Parliament for a visiting Chinese delegation was canceled after the latter refused to be hosted by a Norwegian parliamentarian who heads the Norwegian Tibet Committee and all party parliamentarian group for Tibet.

Olav Gunnar Ballo, a member of Norwegian Parliament, was to host a luncheon reception for a Chinese delegation on April 20, according to a press release issued by the Norwegian Tibet Committee.

However, Olav also was appointed the chairman of the Norwegian Tibet Committee on March 28. The decision to let Olav host the luncheon reception drew strong objection from the Chinese side which demanded that the Norwegian parliament find another host for the luncheon reception threatening that they would not attend the reception otherwise. The Norwegian parliament did not change the host but cancelled the event. The Norwegian Tibet Committee hailed the decision of the Norwegian Parliament which “did not let itself be dictated by Chinese pressure”.

Olav Gunner Ballo was head of the Norwegian Parliamentary delegation to Tibet and China in November 2008.