Published by: World Tibet Network News Tuesday, November 18, 1997

NEW DELHI, Nov 18 (Reuters) - The Dalai Lama, Tibet's spiritual and temporal leader, on Tuesday welcomed the appointment of Gregory Craig as U.S. special coordinator for Tibetan affairs.

"It is a positive development," he told Reuters at a function where he released some of his publications on Buddhist teachings.

He said Craig's appointment demonstrated U.S. commitment to the Tibetan struggle for independence from China.

"It shows the special commitment the U.S. has towards our cause," the Dalai Lama said.

The Clinton administration last month named Craig as special coordinator for Tibetan affairs, a move China described as unacceptable interference in its internal affairs.

Craig is part of U.S. secretary of state Madeleine Albright's entourage, which is due to arrive in India for a brief visit later on Tuesday.

However, an Indian Foreign Ministry spokesman said last week that Craig would be visiting in his capacity as director of policy planning.

The Dalai Lama won a Nobel peace prize in 1989 for his efforts to find a non-violent solution to Tibet's quest for independence. He fled into exile in India in 1959 after an abortive uprising against communist rule in China.

Separately, the Tibetan Youth Congress (TYC) welcomed the release of Chinese pro-democracy dissident Wei Jingsheng from a 14-year prison term on Sunday.

"It is our belief that with his new-found freedom, he will continue to advocate democracy for China and freedom for Tibet," TYC President Tseten Norbu said in a statement.

T.C. Tethong, Minister of Information and International Relations of the India-based Tibetan Administration, said Wei's release was the result of "persistent international pressure."

"We feel that this is a step in the right direction," he said. "We hope that China will build on this and release all prisoners of conscience, not only in China but those in Tibet."