Dalai Lama says Obama concerned on Tibet rights

WASHINGTON—The Dalai Lama said Saturday that US President Barack Obama shared “genuine concerns” about human rights in Tibet during a White House meeting held despite protests by China.

Obama is “president of the greatest democratic country, so naturally he is showing concern about basic human values, human rights, religious freedom,” the Dalai Lama said after his meeting in response to a question from AFP.

“So naturally he shows genuine concern about the suffering in Tibet and also some other places,” the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader said.

The Dalai Lama described his meeting as a “spiritual reunion” and said he felt close to Obama at a “human level,” while also recalling that he had warm relationships with previous US presidents.

A White House official said Obama met the Dalai Lama for 44 minutes in the Map Room of the executive mansion’s private residence. No press was allowed inside, part of an effort by the White House to keep the meeting low key.

Beijing had demanded that Obama not meet with the Dalai Lama, who fled his Chinese-ruled homeland in 1959.