NEW YORK, June 25, 2004--According to a report from the Tibetan exile government's Office of Tibet in Moscow, the Chinese official delegation that arrived in Kalmykia on 21 June kicked up a diplomatic row with the Russian republic's local Buddhist head by insisting on the removal of His Holiness the Dalai Lama's photo from the host's principal Buddhist shrine.

The eight-member delegation from the "Tibet Autonomous Region" is on a visit of Kalmykia to carry out the Chinese government's new external propaganda strategy outlined in June 2000 by Zhao Qizheng, China's information minister, who told a conference of Tibetologists that China would send Tibetan officials and scholars to different parts of the world to counter the "propaganda of the Dalai clique and hostile western forces".

The delegation's visit to Kalmykia comes at a time when the Russian republic is making efforts to invite His Holiness the Dalai Lama to give spiritual teaching and advice for the revival of its Buddhist culture.

One delegate and two Chinese Embassy officials arrived Shedrup Choekhorling temple to check if it was appropriate for the visit of the main body of delegates.

On seeing His Holiness the Dalai Lama's portrait, they asked Telo Rinpoche, head of Kalmyk Buddhist Union, to remove it for the benefit of the delegates, saying they would not enter the temple otherwise.

Telo Rinpoche replied that the temple belonged to the people of Kalmykia and that he could not bring himself to hurt the sentiment of his people.

Meanwhile, the delegates arrived, but balked at entering the temple unless the offending photo was removed.

In the ensuing argument, Rinpoche asked the visitors to appreciate the Kalmyk people's faith and respect for His Holiness the Dalai Lama.

"It is not for the guests to dictate terms to the hosts," Rinpoche said.

"If you have something to discuss with me you can come inside the temple as I cordially invite you."

By and large, this visit proved to be an unexpected fiasco for the delegates; everywhere they went, they witnessed people's natural reverence and admiration for His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the very man they had come to undermine.

The delegates are scheduled to leave Kalmykia today.