epa01442394 The Dalai Lama gestures to his followers during his visit to the Buddhist pagoda in Evry, near Paris, France, 12 August 2008. The Dalai Lama has begun a 12-day visit to France by blessing this Buddhist institute. The exiled spiritual Tibetan leader will spend most of the duration of the Olympics in France. Plans to meet President Nicolas-Sarkozy were dropped, though the Dalai Lama will meet lawmakers on 13 August. During his stay, the Dalai Lama will hold a five-day teaching conference in Nantes, in western France. French first lady Carla-Bruni-Sarkozy will also accompany him to the inauguration of a temple in southern France before his trip ends on 23 August. EPA/MAXPPP/CHRISTOPHE PETIT TESSON FRANCE OUT — BELGIUM OUT