Tenzin Gyatso, better-known as the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, will visit Slovakia between September 8 and 10 and will receive the Ján Langoš Award from the Foundation of the same name that honours fighters for human rights, officials of the Ján Langoš Foundation told the TASR newswire on September 4.
The Dalai Lama is to be honoured on the morning of September 9 at the Pavol Országh Hviezdoslav Theatre in Bratislava where he will be treated to a composition by Slovak musician and organ player Marián Varga. On the same day at the Pasienky sports hall he will deliver a public speech and answer questions of his own choosing from the audience.
The Foundation has invited representatives of both government and opposition parties but said only the latter have confirmed that they will take part. Prime Minister Robert Fico said that he will not attend the event as either head of the government or as leader of the Smer party.
In the past, the Foundation has presented the award to Velvet Revolution protagonist Fedor Gál, while last year awards went to former Hungarian president Arpád Göncz and posthumously to Greek-Catholic bishop Pavol Gojdič. TASR
Compiled by Zuzana Vilikovská from press reports
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