``But before the exiled leader makes any public statement, we have asked the Chinese government for informal consultations,'' said Gyaltsen, who is accompanying the Dalai Lama in Germany where he began a week of Buddhist instruction today.

``We are waiting for a positive response from Beijing,'' Gyaltsen said.

According to the spokesman, the declaration is based on two demands issued to Tibet by Chinese President Jiang Zemin during his talks with US President Bill Clinton in July: recognition of Tibet and Taiwan as part of the People's Republic of China.

The Dalai Lama, 62, today called for religious tolerance.

``Only a plurality of religions can correspond to the multiplicity of people's interests,'' he told the press.

The Nobel Peace laureate stressed he was not in Germany toconvert people.

``It is better to keep one's own traditions, one's own religion, as changing religion can lead to serious confusion,'' he said.