Dharamsala, Nov 7 (IANS) Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama Wednesday congratulated US President Barack Obama on his re-election and hoped his administration would take steps to find a solution to the tragic series of self-immolations in Tibet.
The Nobel Peace laureate, in a message, said: "I am very appreciative of your support for our middle-way approach, which I continue to believe is the best way for us to ensure a solution that is beneficial for both Tibetans and Chinese."
"Given the recently deteriorating situation in Tibet, of which the tragic series of self-immolations is a stark symptom, I hope your administration will be able to take further steps to encourage a mutually acceptable solution," said the elderly monk, who is revered as a demi-god by his people and followers the world over.
Obama defeated his Republican challenger Mitt Romney in a hard fought election.
The Dalai Lama, who stepped down from active politics over an year ago and handed authority to the elected leadership, added: "As just one among the six million Tibetans, I want to thank you for your steady encouragement of our efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the problems in Tibet.
"When you first took office, I remember writing to you that the world places great hope in the democratic vision and leadership of the US and that I hoped you would be able to shape a more peaceful world, bearing in mind the poverty, injustice and deprivation suffered by billions of people," the Dalai Lama, currently touring Japan, said.
The Dalai Lama, who believes in the "middle-path" policy that demands "greater autonomy" for the Tibetans, is viewed by the Chinese as a hostile element bent on splitting Tibet from China.
The Dalai Lama's office here said since George H.W. Bush (1991), the Dalai Lama has met all the US presidents, including Barack Obama twice - February 2010 and July 2011. He met Bill Clinton and George W. Bush several times.
The Dalai Lama, 77, who enjoys wide popularity in the US, has been living in India since 1959 when he fled his homeland after a failed uprising against the communist rule. His government-in-exile is based here but is not recognised by any country, including India.
Some 140,000 Tibetans live in exile around the world, over 100,000 of them in India.
--Indo-Asians News Service
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