Washington, August 29 – Ignoring China’s objections to the visit of Dalai Lama to America, the United States has said that the revered religious leader would meet “appropriate” US officials during his visit next month.
“The Dalai Lama is a Nobel laureate and revered religious leader. Obviously, in this trip he’ll meet with appropriate US officials in his capacity as a religious leader,” State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said during his briefing here on Thursday.
The White House, however, declined to confirm that a meeting with President George W Bush was planned.
The Dalai Lama’s press secretary had earlier said that the leader would meet Bush and Secretary of State Colin Powell during his September 4-24 visit.
Reeker said Dalai Lama would take part in ceremonies marking the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
The Dalai Lama last met Bush in May 2001 at the White House.
“Envoys of the Dalai Lama have twice visited Beijing for talks with Chinese officials. If successful, the negotiations could pave the way for the return to Tibet of the spiritual leader revered by the Tibetan people,” Reeker said.
The Tibetan government-in-exile Monday also said it was considering sending envoys back to China to help pave the way for “serious negotiations” on the Tibet issue.
On Thursday the communist nation had requested the US to strictly abide by its promise to recognise Tibet as a part of China and not to allow the Dalai Lama to visit America and engage in activities to split China.
