His Holiness Arrives in Washington, D.C

Tuesday, 16 October 2007, 10:20 a.m.

Undersecretary Dobriansky and His Holiness the Dalai Lama in Dharamsala (2006)/Photo courtesy: Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama

Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama arrived in Washington, D.C. in the afternoon of 15 October 2007. He was received at the airport by the Chief of Protocol of the United States, Ambassador Nancy Goodman Brinker, and by Special Envoy Lodi Gyari.

The Capital Area Tibetan Community gave a special ceremonial welcome performance on His Holiness’ arrival at his hotel. Parents gave a display of the Gyalshey while children performed Tashi Sholpa and sang welcome songs and offered Doso Chema.

His Holiness was received in front of the hotel by U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibet Paula Dobriansky, Ambassador Ramindar Jassal of the Embassy of India, North American Chithue
Tenzing Chonden, ICT President John Ackerly, and a large gathering of
Tibetan and non-Tibetan friends. They included former Kalon Pema
Chhinjor, Sogyal Rinpoche, staff and members of ICT, and others.

Undersecretary Dobriansky and Ambassador Jassal spent some time with
His Holiness in his suite.

Earlier Kalon Tripa Samdhong Rinpoche arrived in Washington, D.C. on 11 October
2007 on a nine-day long visit to the United States during which he
will attend the Congressional Gold Medal ceremony, have meetings with
relevant officials on issues relating to Tibet and the Tibetan
community in exile, address the conference of Tibetan students and
meet with the Tibetan community.