Dalai Lama says he's anxious to meet Carla Bruni

Associated Press , Brussels Thu, 12/04/2008 9:55 PM World The Dalai Lama has used humor to brush off China's fury over his upcoming meeting with French Pesident Nicolas Sarkozy.The Tibetan spiritual leader told the European Parliament with a chuckle that he looks forward to meeting Sarkozy's "attractive wife," the former model Carla Bruni.Beijing has already canceled a major China-EU summit in protest of the meeting. The session has sparked concern that business ties between the two countries could suffer.China is fiercely opposed to foreign leaders meeting with the Dalai Lama. China regards Tibet as part of its territory.Beijing has denounced the Dalai Lama as a separatist who seeks to end Chinese rule of the Himalayan region.