Obama to meet the Dalai Lama on Saturday despite Chinese protest

[News_Editor]

Obama to meet the Dalai Lama on Saturday despite Chinese protest

2011-07-16 06:03:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

WASHINGTON, D.C. (BNO NEWS) -- The White House on Friday announced that President Barack Obama will meet with the Dalai Lama on Saturday morning, despite calls from the Chinese government not to do so.

The news of the meeting was quietly announced in Obama's daily schedule. "On Saturday, the President will meet with His Holiness the Dalai Lama at the White House," the schedule said. "This meeting underscores the President's strong support for the preservation of Tibet's unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity and the protection of human rights for Tibetans."

The schedule update said Obama would meet with the Dalai Lama at 11.30 a.m. local time and will use the meeting to highlight his 'enduring support' for dialogue between the Dalai Lama's representatives and the Chinese government to resolve difference. No press will be allowed to witness the meeting, although a photo is expected to be released by the White House.

Earlier this month, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei urged U.S. officials not to meet with the Dalai Lama, adding that the Dalai Lama is using the trip to the United States to 'engage in activities to split the motherland.' Obama last met with the Dalai Lama in February 2010.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-07-16

[koheesti]

I wonder if the DL will be allowed to leave from the regular exit instead of having to walk past the garbage by the kitchen back door like last time?

[onionluke]

Hooray !

Marxists in the White House !

[Lite Beer]

China urges the United States to immediately withdraw a decision of arranged Obama-Dalai Lama meeting

BEIJING, July 16 (Xinhua) -- China on Saturday urged the United States to immediately withdraw a decision of arranging U.S. President Barack Obama to meet with the Dalai Lama.

"The issue regarding Tibet concerns China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and we firmly oppose any foreign official to meet with the Dalai Lama in any form," said Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei.

Hong's comments came in response to a question concerning a release on the White House website saying the U.S. President Barack Obama was scheduled to meet the Dalai Lama on July 16.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Chinese embassy in the United States have lodged solemn representation with the United States over the issue in Beijing and Washington, respectively, Hong said.

"We request the U.S. side to honor its serious commitment that recognizes Tibet as part of China and opposes 'Tibet independence', to immediately withdraw the decision of arranging Obama-Dalai Lama meeting, and to avoid interfering in China's internal affairs and damaging China-U.S. relations," the spokesman said. (Xinhua)

-- TNA 2011-07-16

[elcent]

Dalai Lama is surely not a political man, but speaks for the rights of Tibet.

I met him personally one time and must say he's a real father figure.

The circus around him is all staged.

[koheesti]

Dalai Lama is surely not a political man, but speaks for the rights of Tibet.

I met him personally one time and must say he's a real father figure.

He'll also go through your medicine cabinet if you're not careful.

(I once attended one of his speeches and he told a story about how he was having dinner at the house of a very wealthy family. While washing up he looked in their medicine cabinet and was suprised to see all the medication, His point was being wealthy didn't mean one was happy. I found it interesting that the DL would look in someone's medicine cabinet.

Edited July 18, 2011 by Scott
end remark added/apologies to poster

[healthcaretaker]

They have no right to stop Obama from meeting anyone, Chinese or not Chinese.

It showed they are only guilty-concious for what they have done to the Tibetans.

Hope their meeting will bring to the world better attention of the kidnapped Panchen Lama at the age of 5, together with his parents. Its been years and no one knows if they are still alive.

[Scott]

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