Dalai Lama’s Envoy says political will can help resolve Tibet issue

The Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy, Lodi Gyari, testified before the United States Congress that the dialogue process with the Chinese leadership has reached a stage where “if there is the political will on both sides, we have an opportunity to finally resolve this issue.”

Speaking before the House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing on “Tibet: Status of the Sino-Tibetan Dialogue” on March 13, 2007 in Washington, D.C., Gyari said, “I can assure you that we have the political will to do so and that we will not give up. We have over and over again demonstrated this by our actions, in spite of difficulties, provocations, and the legitimate frustrations of our people.”

Gyari said his team was ready for the next round of discussions. He added, “Since our last round, we have had several in-depth sessions with His Holiness and with Professor Samdhong Rinpoche, the democratically-elected head of the Kashag (cabinet). We possess the sincerity and commitment to pursue these talks to a result, and have genuinely considered the views of our counterparts. Likewise, it is my sincere hope that my counterparts have taken into full account our fundamental positions and concerns.”

The full text of the Dalai Lama’s Special Envoy statement is available here.

The statements of Chairman Tom Lantos, Under Secretary Paula Dobriansky (who is the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues), and the Chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet’s Board of Directors, Richard Gere, as well as the video webcast of the hearing, is available here.

The opening statement by Ranking Member Ileana Ros-Lehtinen can be found here.