U.S. Relations With the People's Republic of China (2008)

U.S. Department of State

Daily Press Briefing

Tom Casey, Deputy Spokesman
Washington, DC
April 14, 2008

12:45 p.m. EDT

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QUESTION: Do you have any answers on the Dalai Lama and meetings with Americans or Americans who have (inaudible) --

MR. CASEY: Well, I -- my understanding is that Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky, of course, who is also the Special Envoy for Tibet, is going to be meeting with the Dalai Lama in Michigan on April 21. And I'm sure there have been some conversations between her staff and the Dalai Lama's staff to set that meeting up. Beyond that, I'm not aware that there has been any substantive contacts at a higher level between the Dalai Lama and other officials here in this building.

Sylvie.

QUESTION: Would you have any comment on this meeting of the political party of President Putin?

QUESTION: Well --

MR. CASEY: Still on the Dalai Lama?

QUESTION: Yeah, I just --

QUESTION: Okay.

QUESTION: What's the -- what's the reason for this meeting?

MR. CASEY: Well, she's the --

QUESTION: It's taking place in a complete vacuum?

MR. CASEY: I believe they --

QUESTION: There's nothing going on in Tibet right now?

MR. CASEY: And they actually gave -- actually gave me a number of times -- this will be their 11th meeting since she was appointed to the position of Special Envoy. 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.

QUESTION: And so what are they going to be talking about at this meeting?

MR. CASEY: Well, again, Matt, they're going to be talking about our view that the Chinese authorities ought to engage in a discussion with the Dalai Lama. We'll be interested in hearing his views on the situation there. He's spoken, as I mentioned this morning, 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. 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.

QUESTION: So you're suggesting there's no particularly -- particular urgency to this -- to this meeting?

MR. CASEY: I'm suggesting, Matt, that this is like the previous 11 meetings that Under Secretary Dobriansky has had with the Dalai Lama. If you're trying to get at something for me, I'm just being slow today, so --

QUESTION: Well, no. I mean, has she --

MR. CASEY: Matt, there is an ongoing -- there is an ongoing and serious problem in Tibet. We have spoken out on that repeatedly. It is an issue that certainly, as I just said, I expect she will be discussing with him. But if your point is, are we going into this meeting with a new initiative or expecting a new initiative from him, that's not the case.

QUESTION: No, you answered it right there.

MR. CASEY: Okay.

QUESTION: That last one. But you said 11 meetings --

MR. CASEY: I was trying to get it for you.

QUESTION: Eleventh meeting since when? When was she appointed?

MR. CASEY: Since she was appointed. I don't actually have that for you. I'm sure we can have people on her staff give you that -- the specific date she was named.

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(The briefing was concluded at 1:07 p.m.)