US favours Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal

New Delhi, Nov 6 (PTI) Ahead of Tibetan spiritual
leader the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh in north
east India, a top US official on Friday said he was free to go
anywhere as a religious figure.

"The Dalai Lama is a religious leader and he, of
course, can travel to carry out that role," US Under Secretary
of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero told
journalists here.
"He (Dalai Lama) is visiting a monastery, a holy
place. And from our perspective, this is one of the roles that
he plays," she said when asked for her reaction to Chinese
protest over the Tibetan leader's visit to Tawang from Sunday.
Otero said US President Barack Obama would be visiting
China this month and Tibet would certainly be one of the
issues for discussion with the Chinese leaders.
"One could sense that this issue (Tibet) could be
under consideration in some of those meetings with China," she
said to a query on Obama's impending visit and if the Tibetan
issue would be taken up then.
"But again, I cannot absolutely confirm how it is or
what it is, but there is no doubt that this is an issue that
we have. I certainly have been addressing it. I think that
probably something that will emerge," Otero, who is also the
US special coordinator for Tibet, said.
"Tibet is very much symbolised by Dalai Lama. He is a
person highly revered in the US and highly regarded as a
religious leader...certainly his representation of Tibet.
President Obama has a lot of respect and consideration for the
Dalai Lama," she added. PTI NCB
SDE


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