World Tibet Network News Saturday, June 27, 1998

BEIJING, June 27 (AFP) - US President Bill Clinton urged China Saturday to start dialogue with Tibet's exiled spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama. "I urge President Jiang to assume a dialogue with the Dalai Lama in return for the recognition that Tibet is a part of China and in recognition of the unique cultural and religious heritage of that region," Clinton said after a two-hour summit with Jiang. China took control of Tibet in 1951 and the Dalai Lama fled to India after an abortive uprising against Chinese rule in 1959.