In Kalmykia, Buddhist forum asks Russian MFA to give entrance visa to Dalai Lama XIV

Scientists, writers and public figures, who took part in a conference held within the forum "Buddhism: Philosophy of Non-Violence and Compassion" held in Elista (Kalmykia), have appealed to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) asking to allow a pastoral visit of the Buddhist spiritual leader Dalai Lama XIV to Russia.

Let us remind you that last April the Russian MFA denied a visa to Dalai Lama, because of which last May an initiative group of Kalmyk Buddhists even wanted to sue the Ministry.

The resolution adopted by the conference says: "Given the fact that more than a million faithful Buddhists of Russia wait for the blessings of their spiritual leader and mentor, whose policy of friendliness and compassion is an example for the whole world, we ask the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to issue a visa to Dalai Lama XIV for his pastoral visit to Russia in 2012."

Besides, the forum participants have called upon all the member-states of the United Nations, regional and non-governmental organizations and individuals to more energetically celebrate the International Day of Non-Violence. It is marked on October 2, the birthday of Mahatma Gandhi - the leader of the movement for independence of India, who promoted the philosophy of non-violence.