by RTT Staff Writer
Tibetan exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama said he recognized the United States had a strong interest in Tibet but he understood Washington’s constraints in expressing its true feelings on the issue.
The Tibetan leader’s comments during a trip to northern Italy came soon after U.S. President Barack Obama addressed the issue of Tibet with his Chinese counterpart President Hu Jintao in Beijing.
Describing Tibet as part of China, Obama had said that all minorities should enjoy human rights, and urged China to resume talks with the Dalai Lama’s representatives.
“We did note that while we recognize that Tibet is part of the People’s Republic of China, the United States supports the early resumption of dialogue between the Dalai Lama’s representatives and Beijing,” Obama said.
The Dalai Lama said that it is clear that the interest of the White House is very strong, but it is also clear that there are certain strong limits which prevent the United States from expressing itself as it wishes.
“I very much appreciate the words of Barack Obama on Tibet,” he said while urging world powers to “push China in the direction of major democratic development.
