Published by: World Tibet Network News Thursday, November 13, 1997

NEW DELHI, Nov. 13 (UPI). Tibet's exiled spiritual leader and Nobel laureate Dalai Lama is willing to meet U.S. special coordinator on Tibet Gregory Craig.

A Dalai Lama spokesman said if Craig wanted to meet the Dalai Lama, a meeting could be arranged during the official's upcoming visit to India.

The spokesman said any effort to resolve the Tibetan crisis will be welcomed by their spiritual leader.

Earlier, Beijing had cautioned New Delhi not to allow anti-China activity on its soil. Craig, who was appointed special coordinator on Tibet during Chinese President Jiang Zemin's recent visit to the United States, is accompanying Secretary of State Madeline Albright during her India visit beginning Tuesday. He is expected to meet Tibet's exiled spiritual leader the Dalai Lama.

Beijing has called Craig's appointment ``interference in China's internal affairs.'' While Beijing wants New Delhi to stop any meeting between Craig and the Dalai Lama, India's foreign ministry has said it will not impose any restrictions on the U.S. delegation's program.

India has been home for the Dalai Lama and thousands of his followers who fled Tibet following a failed uprising of 1959.