US Special Envoy for Tibet to meet His Holiness next week

Undersecretary Dobriansky and His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala (2006)/Photo courtesy: Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dharamshala: The United State's Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky, also the Special Envoy for Tibet will meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Michigan on April 21, said State Department Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey during a regular press briefing on Monday.

The meeting in Michigan on April 21 will be the 11th such meeting between U.S. official Paula Dobriansky and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the US official said.

He said: "And that is part of our ongoing efforts to talk about the situation in Tibet and to discuss the importance of maintaining a dialogue between the Dalai Lama and Tibetan officials associated with him and Chinese authorities."

They (Dobriansky and the Dalai Lama) are going to be talking about our view that the Chinese authorities ought to engage in a discussion with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Casey told reporters.

"He's spoken ... about contacts that have occurred or are occurring between some of his representatives and Chinese officials. I'm sure we'll be interested in hearing about that and any other thoughts and ideas he might have about the situation there," Casey added.

He said: "It’s always, of course, a great honor for us to have the opportunity to host him here and to talk to him about the situation. He’s a revered religious leader as well as someone who carries a great deal of moral authority among Tibetan officials."