- Title: USA: WASHINGTON OPENS DOORS TO TIBET'S SPIRITUAL LEADER THE DALAI LAMA
- Date: 24th May 2001
- Summary: OUTSIDE THE PARK HYATT HOTEL, WASHINGTON, D.C., USA (MAY 22, 2001) (REUTERS) 1. MV DALAI LAMA ARRIVING AT PARK HYATT HOTEL WHERE HE IS STAYING DURING VISIT 0.54 WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON, DC, USA (MAY 22, 2001) (REUTERS) 2. MV ARI FLEISCHER WALKING TO THE PODIUM FOR WHITE HOUSE PRESS BRIEFING 0.59 3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) ARI FLEISCHER SAYING, "On the question of the Dalai Lama's visit, the Dalai Lama will be here tomorrow to visit with the president. The president considers the Dalai Lama an important spiritual and religious leader and looks forward to the visit." 1.11 STATE DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, D.C., USA (MAY 22, 2001)(REUTERS) 4. SV DALAI LAMA WALKING OUT OF THE STATE DEPARTMENT BUILDING 1.28 5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) DALAI LAMA SAYING "Oh, yes, very good, very good. they really showing I think genuine warm feeling as did the previsou Secretary of State, Madaline Albright. So that the main sort of point I mentioned to him, since it was the first meeting, so I almost like you see, introduced myself to him. Three points, number one, as a human being I always try to promote religious values. As a Buddhist, I always try to promote human value. Then as a Buddhist, I try to promotion of religious harmony, then third Tibetan issue, as a Tibetan as a Dalai Lama. So I mentioned these three points...he very very keenly listened to these points. Than he introduced the new special coordinator of Tibet. So then, I expressed, you see he told me he was leaving for Africa, so I told him that is very good I really appreciate because I want, I always expressing concern that is the gap rich and poor global level and rest of the nation. So now I have been Africa three times. So I noticed it is, huge continent, great potential but at the same time compare modern world the, the economy there, living standards are very poor so therefore so long as this gap remain this not only morally wrong but practically also source of problem so this gap must reduce. So his visit and taking more care about the debt continent eventually can be I think very big contribution regarding reduce of the gap. So I expressed it like that. Then the Tibetan issue of coure he inquired about the current situation. Then I explain, so that's all." 4.08 6. HAS DALAI LAMA LEAVING 4.41 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
- Embargoed: 8th June 2001 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: WASHINGTONDC, UNITED STATES
- City:
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVADXWI68PRAASK7DDY8TFSV76S6
- Story Text: Washington has opened its doors to Tibet's spiritual
leader at the highest levels. The Dalai Lama said the gap
between rich and poor is a moral problem that he encouraged
the U.S. Secretary of State to address during his trip to
Africa.
Senior U.S. officials said the Dalai Lama was being
welcomed "in his capacity as a respected religious figure."
But he is also a vocal proponent of Tibetan rights. Although
he does not seek separation of the Himalayan territory from
China, he does argue for greater cultural and religious
autonomy.
The Nobel laureate arrived in Washington on Tuesday -- his
eighth stop in a nine-city U.S. tour -- and was greeted at his
hotel by dozens of local Tibetans in traditional dress.
Later he met Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was
about to leave for Africa, Deputy Secretary of State Richard
Armitage and Paula Dobriansky, an undersecretary of state who
is the newly appointed special coordinator for Tibetan issues.
He told reporters Powell had shown "genuine, human, warm
feeling," like his predecessor Madeleine Albright.
The Dalai Lama, expressing deep concern for the gap
between rich and poor, piled praise on Powell for traveling to
Africa -- a continent he said had great potential.
"This gap must be reduced, so his visit -- and taking more
care about that continent -- eventually I think can be a very
big contribution regarding reducing the gap."
Asked if he thought Powell would be a good human rights
defender, he replied, "I hope so, but it's too early to say."
The Dalai Lama was scheduled to meet President George W.
Bush on Wednesday, the day Beijing marks the 50th anniversary
of what it calls the "peaceful liberation" of Tibet. The
International Campaign for Tibet said Vice President Dick
Cheney and national security adviser Condoleezza Rice would
also attend.
The charismatic monk, whose status has been enhanced by
the support of such famous figures as actor Richard Gere, is
also due to be interviewed during his stay by influential
television talk show host Oprah Winfrey for her "O" magazine.
Officials of Tibet's government-in-exile said in New Delhi
that the Dalai Lama would ask Bush to help him initiate a
dialogue with China.
But U.S.-China relations are at a difficult juncture after
a series of events that have strained ties, including the
April 1 collision of a U.S. spy plane and a Chinese fighter
jet off China's coast. Beijing detained the 24-member crew for
11 days before releasing them, but still holds the plane.
Other points of irritation were Bush's decision last month
to offer Taiwan the biggest arms package in a decade and to
allow Taiwanese leader Chen a two-night stopover in New York
en route to Latin America.
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province not entitled
to official links with the outside world.
Since his arrival on Monday night, Chen met several
members of the U.S. Congress, New York City Mayor Rudolph
Giuliani and toured the floor of the New York Stock Exchange.
The range of activities and permission to meet members of
Congress mark a departure from the practice of the previous
U.S. administration, which set tight restrictions on what
visiting Taiwan leaders could do.
The last time a Taiwanese leader traveled to the United
States was in 1995, when President Lee Teng-hui had a private
but high-profile visit to take part in a reunion at Cornell
University, his alma mater, in New York State.
Beijing was so angry it briefly downgraded ties with
Washington and froze semi-official talks with Taipei.
While neither visit was in itself unprecedented, having
Chen and the Dalai Lama in the United States at the same time
drew a prompt expression of frustration from Beijing.
"Recently, the U.S. government has taken a hard-line
attitude and policies toward China. On issues such as Taiwan,
Tibet and religious affairs, it has endlessly interfered in
China's internal affairs and hurt China's interests," Foreign
Ministry spokesman Zhu Bangzao said at a news conference.
"These troubles in China-U.S. ties were not created by us
and are not something we wish to see," he added
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