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Exiled Tibetans applaud Clinton's call for dialogue

Exiled Tibetans today applauded US President Bill Clinton's call to the Chinese government to enter into dialogue with their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, on the situation in Tibet.

In a faxed statement from Dharamshala, a senior official for the Tibetan government-in-exile, T C Tethong, also praised Chinese President Jiang Zemin for publicly recognising that Tibet is an issue that needed resolution, and for indicating his willingness to exchange views about conditions in the Himalayan region.

Jiang told reporters during a nationally televised exchange with Clinton on Saturday that the door was open to negotiations with the Dalai Lama as long as he publicly acknowledged that Tibet and Taiwan were an inalienable part of the communist-led mainland.

Jiang also said that Beijing and the Dalai Lama were already communicating through various channels.

Tethong reiterated today the Dalai Lama's position that he seeks more autonomy in Tibet rather than full independence from Beijing. "We hope the Chinese leadership will recognise the sincerity of His Holiness's gesture and take a reciprocal step," he said.

Regarding the issue of Taiwan, Tethong said the Dalai Lama had already stated during his March 1997 trip to the nationalist-led island that it is a matter to be discussed between Beijing and Taipei, and that confrontation and military force will help neither side.

UNI

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