Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09NEWDELHI1233
2009-06-15 10:54:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy New Delhi
Cable title:  

DALAI LAMA PRAISES PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DIPLOMATIC

Tags:  PGOV PHUM PREL PREF IN CH 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO8659
OO RUEHAST RUEHBI RUEHCI RUEHCN RUEHDBU RUEHGH RUEHLH RUEHNEH RUEHPW
RUEHVC
DE RUEHNE #1233 1661054
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 151054Z JUN 09
FM AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6998
INFO RUCNCLS/ALL SOUTH AND CENTRAL ASIA COLLECTIVE
RUEHOO/CHINA POSTS COLLECTIVE
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RHEHAAA/WHITE HOUSE WASHDC
UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001233 

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PREF IN CH
SUBJECT: DALAI LAMA PRAISES PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DIPLOMATIC
STRATEGY

UNCLAS NEW DELHI 001233

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/ES-CR AND S/ES-O

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PREF IN CH
SUBJECT: DALAI LAMA PRAISES PRESIDENT OBAMA'S DIPLOMATIC
STRATEGY


1. (SBU) On June 15, Representative of the Dalai Lama in
India, Tempa Tsering, delivered a letter from the Dalai Lama
to President Barack Obama. The letter commends the
President's efforts to reach out to Muslim countries and
resolve the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Tsering confirmed
that President Obama's speech in Cairo prompted the Dalai
Lama to send the letter in praise of the U.S.'s new
diplomatic efforts.


2. (U) Below is the text of the letter. We will forward the
original and send a scanned copy to SCA/INS.


3. (SBU) Begin text:

June 12, 2009

His Excellency Barack H. Obama
President of the United States of America
The White House
Washington, DC 20500
U.S.A.

Your Excellency,

I admire your efforts to reach out to countries, especially
Muslim countries which have had some unfounded misgivings
about the United States. Equally significant is the position
you have taken on resolving the Israeli-Palestinian crisis
that has been going on for so many decades. These are the
kinds of approaches that a great and powerful nation like the
United States should take. I have said as much to my friends
in the United States ever since my first trip to your country
in 1979. I am deeply encouraged that you are actually taking
such steps in this direction.

As Your Excellency knows, I have always believed in the
wisdom and power of dialogue rather than violence in
resolving world problems. In our efforts to solve the
Tibetan problem we have never wavered from the path of
non-violence and have pursued the path of dialogue with the
Chinese authorities - unfortunately without much success so
far.

Because of my firm belief in nonviolence and the futility and
unpredictability of using force I wrote to President Bush on
September 12, 2001 of the need to tackle the crisis
accordingly and shared my thoughts with him during subsequent
meetings as well.

I have long believed that adopting principled leadership,
based on the high ideals of the founding fathers of the USA,
and taking a generous, ethical and compassionate attitude as
the world's most powerful nation, not only enhances the
reputation of the USA, but also contributes tremendously to
reducing tension in the world. I shall therefore be
following these promising development with great hope and
appreciation, and pray for their success.

With my prayers and good wishes,

Yours sincerely,

//signed//

End text.
BURLEIGH