White House Press Secretary on Dalai Lama, Feb 5, 2015

choi

Press Briefing by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, 2/5/2015. White House.
www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-off ... josh-earnest-252015

consecutive paragraphs about the Dalai Lama:

“MR [Josh] EARNEST:  Mark.
     
“Q    Josh, over at the prayer breakfast today, President Obama offered a public welcome, public greeting and even public words of praise for the Dalai Lama.  What should Chinese leaders take from that?
     
“MR EARNEST:  Well, the President has on previous occasions had the opportunity to meet with the Dalai Lama here at the White House.  The two leaders did not meet on His Holiness’s visit to the White House this time.
     
“But I think the President’s respect for and appreciation of the Dalai Lama were pretty clearly articulated in the remarks that he delivered today.  It’s not different from the sentiment that the President has previously expressed in the context of meetings that he’s hosted with the Dalia Lama on previous visits to Washington.
     
“As longstanding as the President’s appreciation for the Dalai Lama is, so is the Chinese government’s objections to those kinds of interactions.  But we're certainly cognizant of that impact, but it hasn’t changed the President’s view.
     
“Q    Was the Dalai Lama here this week at the White House -- is that what you were saying?  But didn't meet with the President?
     
“MR EARNEST:  No.  I was saying he did not.
     
“Q    He wasn’t at the White House, in other words?
     
“MR EARNEST:  Not that I’m aware of, no.
     
“Q    You said the White House.
     
“MR EARNEST:  I’m sorry?
     
“Q    You said White House but you meant Washington.  You said White House.
     
“MR EARNEST:  Okay, sorry if I was unclear.  The President did not meet with the Dalai Lama on this visit to Washington.
     
“Q    And will not?
     
“MR EARNEST:  And will not.
     
“Q    Okay.
     
“MR EARNEST:  Sorry about that, Mark.


My comment: There is no need to read the rest, which has nothing to do with His Holiness.