(Washington) Senior U.S. diplomats met with the Dalai Lama in New York on Wednesday, the State Department said, a rare occurrence in direct contact between Washington and the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama met with Uzra Zeya, the undersecretary of state for democracy and human rights, responsible for Tibetan issues, and Kelly Razzouk, an official at the White House’s National Security Council.
The meeting took place in New York, where the 89-year-old Tibetan leader is recovering from surgery on both knees.
During this meeting, Mr.me Zeya “reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to promoting the human rights of Tibetans and supporting efforts to preserve their distinct historical, linguistic, cultural, and religious heritage,” the State Department said in a statement.
China exercises draconian control over access to Tibet, a region it considers an inalienable part of its territory.
Beijing regained control of Tibet, which had previously been largely autonomous, in 1951 before the Dalai Lama went into exile in 1959.
Mme Zeya also spoke on Wednesday of American “support” for “the resumption of dialogue between (China) and His Holiness,” interrupted since 2010, according to the statement.
The Dalai Lama has been a political and spiritual leader for Tibetans since the mid-20th century, demonized in China but close to the United States. However, he stepped down as political leader of his people in 2011.