Dalai Lama meets Bush

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MAY 23. Without much fanfare but with all the political implications, the U.S.President, Mr. George W. Bush had his ``private meeting'' with the Dalai Lama, Tibetan spiritual leader, in the residential quarters of the White House late today.

On Tuesday, unmindful of protests from China, senior officials of the Bush administration met the Tibetan leader.

After meeting the Secretary of State, Gen. Colin Powell, and discussing the promotion of human and religious values in Tibet and the overall situation there, the Tibetan leader said Gen. Powell listened to the points raised ``very keenly'' and showed ``genuine, human warm feelings'' like his predecessor, Ms. Madeleine Albright. The Dalai Lama, according to the officials of the International Campaign for Tibet, was ``very pleased with the meeting''.

Senior officials present at the meeting included the Deputy Secretary of State, Mr. Richard Armitage, the Under- Secretary of State of Global Affairs and Special Coordinator for Tibetan issues, Ms. Paula Dobiransky, and the Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, Mr. James Kelly.

However, all eyes were on the scheduled meeting between Mr. Bush and the Tibetan leader. The State Department and the White House repeatedly stressed that the Dalai Lama was a ``spiritual'' leader besides being a Nobel Laureate.

The ``private meeting'' was in the residential quarters of the White House, not the Oval Office. There will not be a formal photo opportunity but a picture will be released later. The meeting is seen as a ``concession'' to China, already outraged by the reception the Dalai Lama is being accorded.

The White House argument that the welcome to the Dalai Lama is nothing out of the ordinary does not cut much ice. The former President, Mr. Bill Clinton, did meet the Dalai Lama, but he always ``dropped by'' at a meeting, usually between the Tibetan leader and the Vice-President. This time, Mr. Bush is having a separate meeting with the Dalai Lama. The fact that it is in the residential quarters is a different matter.

The Dalai Lama is in Washington during the Taiwanese President, Mr. Chen Shui-Bian's ``transit'' stop in New York on his way to Latin America. On Monday night there was a high- profile dinner for Mr. Chen which was attended by some 20 members of Congress. The Chinese authorities have argued that the decision to grant entry to Mr. Chen and the Dalai Lama reflected a toughening of stance against Beijing.

Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Section  : International
Previous : Britain condemns Taliban move
Next     : Pearl Harbour: history revisited