By George Gedda

Associated Press Writer

Friday, October 31, 1997; 4:57 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Just ahead of a deadline, Secretary of State Madeleine Albright named a top assistant, Gregory Craig, as coordinator for U.S. policy toward Tibet.

Craig, 52, a former aide to Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Mass., directs the State Department's Office of Policy Planning.

China has criticized Albright's decision to create a special office for Tibet, calling it interference in China's internal affairs.

Albright, responding to congressional concern over widespread reports of Chinese repression in Tibet, announced three months ago she would name a Tibet coordinator by Nov. 1.

The announcement Friday came just before the deadline and less than24 hours after the departure of Chinese President Jiang Zemin, who was confronted with questions on Tibet during his state visit here this week.

Some analysts had said that the atmosphere for the summit would have been jeopardized if the announcement had been made during the Washington portion of Jiang's U.S. visit.

The United States does not support Tibetan independence from China but has backed the Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, who fled the territory in 1959 after an uprising against Chinese rule was suppressed.

Part of Craig's mission will be to promote a dialogue between the Dalai Lama's government in exile and the Chinese government.

Jiang said the Chinese takeover of Tibet almost a half-century ago was comparable to the freeing of slaves by the United States in the last century. But critics say China has ruthlessly repressed Tibetan culture, language and religion.

The appointment of Craig won praise from the chairmen of the House and Senate foreign policy committees.

Rep. Benjamin Gilman, R-N.Y., chairman of the House International Relations Committee, said the appointment of an official with the rank of assistant secretary shows that Albright takes the Tibetan issue seriously.

Marc Thiessen, a spokesman for Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Jesse Helms, R-N.C., called Craig ``a person of stature'' and said it was a great appointment.

The appointment is not subject to Senate confirmation.