Obama to meet Dalai Lama

vIndianz.com (3 Feb, 2010) — Nashua (New Hampshire, the United States): Notwithstanding the strong objections raised by China, the White House has asserted that US President Barack Obama, plans to meet Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, when he is in Washington next time.

However, no dates for the Obama-Dalai Lama meeting were announced by the White House.

“The President told China’s leaders during his trip last year that he would meet with the Dalai Lama, and he intends to do so. The Dalai Lama is an internationally respected religious and cultural leader, and the President will meet him in that capacity,” Bill Burton, the White House Deputy Press Secretary said, according to several Indian agencies.

The Assistant Secretary of State for Public Affairs, P J Crowley, said that China has made its views clear to the US on the Dalai Lama.

“Chinese have made clear their views regarding meetings with the Dalai Lama, regarding arms sales to Taiwan, and I think what we’re clearly indicating is that we will continue to follow our national interest just as we would expect China to follow its national interest,” he said.

According to media reports, China on Tuesday warned Obama that his meeting with the Dalai Lama would harm US-China relationship.

Such a meeting would “harm others but bring no profit to itself either,” Zhu Weiqun, executive vice minister of the United Front Work Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said. He said such a move would “violate international rules”. China will take “necessary measures” to counter it, he added.

As US President, Obama has not met the Tibetan spiritual leader. He became the first US President in a decade not to meet Dalai Lama when he was in Washington last October.

• Our ties with India won’t be hit: Dalai Lama – The Hindu
• Dalai Lama turns down plea to continue as Tibetan political head – NDTV.com
• Tibetans form committee to find Dalai Lama’s replacement – Times of India
• ‘New Chinese law banning Dalai Lama reincarnation’ – Times of India
• China has no communist ideology; India deserves UNSC seat: Lama – Economic Times
• Dalai Lama: Ambedkar spread awareness on Buddhism in India – The Hindu
• Tibetan General Meeting to be held in Dharamshala from May 21 – IBNLive.com
• ‘Tibet exile govt ‘illegal’ after vote’ – Hindustan Times
• President to meet astronauts, Chinese officials – The Associated Press
• Drafting panel set up – Times of India

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