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Obama, Dalai Lama due at prayer breakfast but not together

FILE - The Dalai Lama walks out of the White House in Washington, in this Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 file photo, after meeting with President Barack Obama. Obama is to sit at the head table Thursday Feb. 5, 2015 with other speakers for the annual National Prayer Breakfast, which brings together U.S. and international leaders from different parties and faiths for one spiritual hour. Event organizers say the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism will be in the audience of about 3,600, seated close to the dais and actor Richard Gere, a friend and follower. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File) FILE - The Dalai Lama walks out of the White House in Washington, in this Thursday, Feb. 18, 2010 file photo, after meeting with President Barack Obama. Obama is to sit at the head table Thursday Feb. 5, 2015 with other speakers for the annual National Prayer Breakfast, which brings together U.S. and international leaders from different parties and faiths for one spiritual hour. Event organizers say the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism will be in the audience of about 3,600, seated close to the dais and actor Richard Gere, a friend and follower. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak, File)

By Associated Press February 5, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – How much will President Barack Obama and the Dalai Lama interact during the National Prayer Breakfast? Heaven only knows.

Obama is to sit at the head table Thursday morning with other speakers. Event organizers say the spiritual leader of Tibet will be seated in the audience of about 3,600, near the dais and his friend, actor Richard Gere.

With such close proximity, a chance encounter is possible between Obama and the Dalai Lama. But the White House says there is no specific meeting between the fellow Nobel Peace Prize winners to announce.

The event is drawing protests from China. Beijing considers the Dalai Lama an anti-Chinese separatist because of his quest for greater Tibetan autonomy.