The New York Times

Wednesday, July 30, 1997

Albright to Name Special Aide on U.S. Po1icy Toward Tibet.

by STEVEN LEE MYERS

WASHINGTON, July 29 - Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright told Congressional leaders today that she would appoint a new "special coordinator" to oversee American policy toward Tibet.

The announcement, which came in response to Democratic and Republican pressure in Congress, could create new diplomatic strains with China.

The United States has never had diplomatic relations with Tibet, which it regards as part of China, but the creation of the new position would significantly raise the profile of Tibetan affairs within the Government, according to Administration and Congressional officials familiar with the plan.

"We are prepared to have someone working in the State Department to see that the religious freedom of Tibetans is promoted and that their ethnicity is respected," a senior Administration official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The new coordinator, however, would not have the rank of ambassador, with the diplomatic credentials to act on behalf of the United States, nor would the appointment bestow any diplomatic recognition on Tibet. In that sense the idea would fall short of recent proposals in both the House and the Senate, which the Administration has opposed.

But the appointment is likely to rankle China, which has repeatedly accused other nations of interfering with internal matters by raising concems over Tibet.

President Clinton met in April with the Dalai Lama, Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, and promised to raise Tibet as a prominent issue when he meets President Jiang Zemin of China in the fall. The meeting with the Dalai Lama, a so-called drop by during the Tibetan's session with Vice President Al Gore that stopped short of an official visit, prompted protests from,Beijing.

"I see this as a step in the right direction " said Lodi Gyari, president of The International Campaign for Tibet and a former aide to the Dalai Lama. "I hope this is the beginning of a trend. If the United States is consistent and sincere and vigorous in trying to persuade the Chinese Government to come to a settlement, I strongly believe it will happen."

Ms. Albright, visiting Singapore today, discussed the appointment in a telephone call with leaders of the Senate's Committee on Foreign Relations and the House's Committee on International Relations which are considering new legislation to force the appointment of an envoy with ambassadorial rank, a move the Ad-

ministration opposes.

The details of the position - including the scope of the duties and resources -were not disclosed.

After the meeting; an aide to a Senate Republican said, "We want to make sure this is not one guy sitting in the bowels of the State Department with no influence over policy in Tibet."

The special coordinator would have a broad mandate to orchestrate the Administration's policies internally and also to meet with Tibetanin officials, including the exiled leaders based in India, officials said. Th officials said the coordinator would also act as a mediator between Chinese and Tibetan officials, trying to restart contacts.

China sized Tibet in 1950

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The New York Times

Wednesday, July 30, 1997

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