Hello, I’m Charlotte Bellis and you’re watching Newsy.com.

A peace conference in South Africa has been called off after the country’s government refused to grant a visa to Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Other Nobel laureates pulled out of the meeting in protest.  
The conference was intended to discuss soccer’s role in fighting racism and xenophobia, as South Africa will host the World Cup tournament in 2010. (Footage from CNN)

South Africa’s SABC News talks to the country’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson, who explains the visa refusal.

“In dealing with matter of this nature, you have to take into account, like anywhere else in the world, what’s in the best interests of the country. And it’s not in the best interests of the country at this stage to invite the Dalai Lama.” (SABC News)

The BBC presents a view from one of the panelists, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, who reportedly accuses the government of… “shamelessly succumbing to Chinese pressure”, and goes on to say, “on this occasion, the relationship between South Africa and China - the business relationship in particular - appears to be more important.” (BBC)

AllAfrica.com criticizes the move, headlining “Govt Scores Own Goal Over Peace Conference,”
and says “An attempt …  to show how the 2010 Fifa World Cup could promote peace and harmony … was transformed into a public relations own-goal Tuesday – by the government's foreign policy.” (AllAfrica.com)

A CNN correspondent reports the government is not doing a good job explaining the denial to the people of South Africa.

“I think generally most South Africans are embarrassed by the government. The government still haven’t, to be honest, said why they said that it’s not in the best interests of the nation but won’t elaborate on what that means.” (CNN)

So what do you think should have been South Africa’s priority? Why do you think the Dalai Lama’s visa was denied?