| (WASHINGTON) - U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Ranking Republican on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, expressed disappointment that His Holiness the Dalai Lama will not have an opportunity to meet with President Obama during his visit to Washington this week. Statement by Ros-Lehtinen:
“I am greatly disappointed to learn that, for the first time since 1991, a sitting U.S. President will not be meeting with His Holiness the Dalai Lama during His Holiness' visit to Washington.
“Last week, the Empire State building was bathed in red and yellow to ‘celebrate’ the 60th anniversary of the founding of Communist China. This week the U.S. is kowtowing to Beijing again by refusing to meet with His Holiness. This is a policy turned upside-down.”
Background: Today, Ros-Lehtinen sent a letter to the Dalai Lama congratulating him on being the first recipient of the Lantos Human Rights Prize. His Holiness will receive the award tomorrow at a ceremony at the Capitol from the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.
Ros-Lehtinen was the author of legislation which awarded Congress’ highest award, the Congressional Gold Medal, to the Dalai Lama in 2007.
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