US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Uzra Zeya. Photo: File

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Washington — “We remain steadfast in our support for protecting the human rights of Tibetans and efforts to preserve your distinct historical, linguistic, cultural, and religious identity,” said the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, while thanking Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) for his congratulatory letter.

On January 6, 2022, the new US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Uzra Zeya, sent a letter of thanks to Sikyong Penpa Tsering of the Central Tibetan Administration after receiving a congratulatory letter from Sikyong on 21 December 2021, following her designation as the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.

The letter from the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues to Sikyong stated, “Thank you for your letter of congratulations on December 21 following my designation as the United States Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.”

The Special Coordinator reaffirmed the US position on Tibet, stating, “The United States shares your interest in seeing a resumption of dialogue, without preconditions between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama, his representatives, or leaders of the Tibetan community.”

In addition, she ensured US support for Tibetan identity, adding, “We remain steadfast in our support for protecting the human rights of Tibetans and efforts to preserve your distinct historical, linguistic, cultural, and religious identity.”

Zeya also pledged to cooperate in the field of humanitarian aid, saying, “We are proud to provide humanitarian assistance to Tibetan refugees and look forward to continued cooperation in this area.”

She emphasised the US commitment to Tibet, concluding, “We are committed to increasing access to Tibet and to supporting efforts to protect the environments and water resources of the Tibetan plateau.”

She expressed her desire to meet with CTA's Sikyong in the near future and to continue cooperation for their common goals.

This letter is an important demonstration of the U.S. government's commitment to the fair treatment of the Tibetan people, their human rights, the preservation of the environment, and the U.S. commitment to ensuring dialogue between the Tibetan representatives and the Chinese government.

On December 20, 2021, Secretary Blinken announced that Under Secretary of State for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya has been appointed as the new U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibet Issues.

“I am honored to serve as the U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. I am committed to promoting respect for the human rights of Tibetans and helping to preserve their religious, cultural, and linguistic heritage,” Zeya wrote on her Twitter.

“Direct dialogue without preconditions between the government of the People's Republic of China and His Holiness the Dalai Lama or his representatives, is essential to resolve differences and achieve meaningful autonomy for Tibetans,” the new U.S. Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues said.