Published by: World Tibet Network News, Wednesday November 12 1997

NEW DELHI, Nov 11 (Reuters) - A senior U.S. diplomat, recently appointed as special coordinator for Tibet, is part of Secretary of State Madeleine Albright's entourage to India next week but officials said on Tuesday he would be coming in a different capacity.

The Clinton administration last month named Gregory Craig as special coordinator for Tibetan affairs, provoking a furious outburst from China which described the appointment as unacceptable interference in its internal affairs.

``We have been advised that Craig is coming in his capacity as director of policy planning,'' an Indian foreign ministry spokesman said, playing down the significance of Craig's inclusion.

Albright begins a two-day visit on November 18, the first by a U.S. Secretary of State in 14 years. The visit is part of what U.S. officials have called a strategic dialogue culminating in President Bill Clinton's visit, planned for early 1998.

Albright will be in India to ``carry on a wide-ranging and forward-looking dialogue,'' the foreign ministry spokesman said.

Indian media reports have speculated that Craig's inclusion in the U.S. delegation has pushed New Delhi into a tight corner.

India, which accepts Tibet as an integral part of China, has been home to the Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers.

The Dalai Lama fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against Chinese communist rule.

The Indian foreign ministry spokesman stressed there was an understanding between the Indian government and the Dalai Lama that he would not engage in any political activity from Indian soil.

Tibetan groups in India have applauded the U.S. decision to appoint a special coordinator for Tibet as a strong signal to Beijing that it cannot wish away the Tibetan problem.