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Obama aides meet Dalai Lama

By Lobsang Wangyal | Tibet Sun

The Dalai Lama during a meeting with the senior advisor to US president Barack Obama, Valerie Jarrett (center) along with US State Department Under Secretary Maria Otero at his residence in Dharamshala, India, on 14 September 2009.Office of the Dalai Lama/Tenzin Choejor/India

A senior adviser to US President Barack Obama and two other US officials held talks with the Dalai Lama today before his visit to the US in the coming weeks.

Valerie Jarrett, an adviser to the president, Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero, the Obama administration’s new Special Coordinator for Tibetan Affairs, and Michael Strautmanis, Chief of Staff to Valerie Jarrett, met with the Dalai Lama today for about two hours behind closed doors.

Jarrett’s visit could serve to pave the way for a meeting between Obama and the exiled Tibetan leader during the latter’s visit to the US.

A statement released by the office of the Dalai Lama said, “Ms. Jarrett conveyed the President’s greetings to His Holiness and informed him that she was sent to brief him about the Obama Administration’s approach to the Tibetan issue.”

“She reiterated President Obama’s commitment to support the Tibetan people in protecting their distinct religious, linguistic, and cultural heritage and securing respect for their human rights and civil liberties. She said the President commends the Dalai Lama for being consistent in looking for a solution based on Tibetan autonomy within the People’s Republic of China.”

The Dalai Lama informed Jarrett about the current situation of the Tibetans in exile and the measures taken by the Tibetans in India to preserve and promote the distinct Tibetan culture and identity through the assistance of the people and government of India.

The Tibetan leader also gave an update on the process of dialogue with the Chinese leadership and the presentation of the memorandum for Tibetan autonomy in the eighth round of talks between the two sides in October-November 2008.

The Dalai Lama conveyed to Obama’s emissary the issues that he would like the US President to address when he visits China in November. However, the statement did not elaborate the issues.

The Dalai Lama will kick off a North American tour starting with a public address in Memphis, Tennessee, on 23 September. He will then go to Long Beach, California, and after that attend a peace summit in Vancouver, Canada.

He will return to the US for a week from 4 October, and is scheduled to visit New York and Washington to give teachings and attend a conference on Mind and Life in Washington DC according to his website (www.dalailama.com).

Former US President George HW Bush met with the Dalai Lama in 1991, and all US presidents since then have met with him, despite fierce condemnation from China.

Copyright © 2009 Tibet Sun

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