Washington - Congresswoman Cynthia McKinney (D-GA), member of the International Relations Committee and Ranking Member of the International Operations and Human Rights Subcommittee, expressed outrage today at UN General Secretary Kofi Annan's decision to exclude the Dalai Lama from this week's "Millennium World Peace Summit."

The Dalai Lama, winner of the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize, was noticeably absent on Monday during the "Day of World Peace" opening ceremony at the UN which was attended by major representatives of fifteen major faiths and religions.

The holy man, in exile since the Chinese invaded Tibet in 1959, was excluded from the events because his presence would supposedly not be welcomed by members of the Chinese delegation.

McKinney commented, "It is a sad day when a nation with a horrible human rights record such as China is allowed to openly dictate its usual disrespect for a man of peace who has always been a thorn in their side. Kofi Annan has already sold the UN logo to the highest bidder and for the second time in a decade is an accessory to genocide. This most recent slap in the face of peace is intolerable."

China, annexed Tibet in 1951 and has since caused the cultural genocide of the Tibetan people, drawing international criticisms for its long history of human rights abuses.

McKinney concluded, "Its depressingly ironic that the Dalai Lama is excluded from an event allegedly held to address what he has stood for all of his life."

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