US supports talks between His Holiness' Envoys and China

Tom Casey addressing a daily press briefing

His Holiness the Dalai Lama's Special Envoy Lodi Gyaltsen Gyari and Envoy Kelsang Gyaltsen are in China to hold informal talks with representatives of the Chinese leadership.

"In terms of our views on conversations with the Chinese and representatives of the Dalai Lama, obviously, we've been calling for that for a long time. We certainly support the statements, as the President said yesterday, that the Chinese Government has said they're willing to have this meeting take place," said Deputy Spokesman Tom Casey at a daily press briefing on 2 May.

US President George W. Bush on Thursday urged China to hold substantive dialogue with the representatives of His Holiness the Dalai Lama to address the deep and legitimate concerns of the Tibetan people.

Tom Casey said, "We certainly want to see it take place and believe that dialogue between the Dalai Lama and his representatives and the Chinese Government is really the best way to address some of the fundamental issues in Tibet, and will allow for a real communication and a real discussion of those issues between the Chinese Government and an individual and his representatives who really is revered among people in the area and who is an important spiritual leader for many."

Responding to a question on what US consider as deep and legitimate concerns of Tibetans, Casey said, "I don't think that we need to catalog for the Tibetan people what their basic concerns are," said Casey.

"We have a situation in Tibet where people feel that they are unable to freely practice their religion, freely practice some of their cultural traditions and values. And this is an ongoing problem. These are things that we would hope would be able to be discussed," he said.

"Certainly, the Dalai Lama himself has said that he is not calling for any kind of change in the political status of Tibet. He's not calling for independence, but calling for a discussion with the Chinese Government to help resolve some of these issues and allow people to be able to enjoy some of these basic rights,' he added.

During their brief visit to China, the envoys of His Holiness the Dalai Lama will take up the urgent issue of the current crisis in the Tibetan areas. They will convey His Holiness the Dalai Lama's deep concerns about the Chinese authorities' handling of the situation and also provide suggestions to bring peace to the region.

Since the Chinese leadership has indicated, publicly as well as in briefings given to foreign governments, its position on the continuation of the dialogue, the envoys will raise the issue of moving forward on the process for a mutually satisfactory solution to the Tibetan issue.