Washington, DC, 19 July: Kalon Tripa Dr Lobsang Sangay met with Maria Otero, Under Secretary Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights and Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. The two discussed humanitarian and human rights issues.

Under Secretary Otero was appointed Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues on October 1, 2009 by U.S. Secretary of State Hilary Clinton and after confirmation by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Among her responsibilities as the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues as outlined in the Tibet Policy Act of 2002, Under Secretary Otero works to promote “substantive dialogue” between His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives and the government of the People’s Republic of China, as well as coordinate United States government policies, programs and projects related to Tibet.