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Dalai Lama pleased with Obama meeting

19 February 2010 01:38 (UTC +04:00)

Baku â€“ APA. The Dalai Lama says US President Barack Obama was "supportive" at the pair’s controversial meeting in Washington overnight, APAreports citing ABC News.

Mr Obama brushed aside China’s warning not to meet the exiled Tibetan leader but in a concession to Beijing, the meeting was held behind closed doors and in the Map Room rather than the Oval Office.

After the meeting, the Dalai Lama emerged from the White House to playfully throw snow at some of the journalists.

The exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said his cause was "just" and one of "peace" and he was "very happy" that the meeting had gone ahead.

"The President is very much supportive and so I express my thanks to him," he said.
He also expressed his admiration for the United States.

"Not economy or military power but mainly as a champion of democracy, freedom, human value, human creativity, these things," he said.

The White House says Mr Obama told the Dalai Lama of his "strong support" for the preservation of Tibet’s identity and that he encouraged talks between the exiled Tibetan leader and China.

The Dalai Lama has now met every sitting US President since his 1991 meeting with George Bush.