USA: Richard Gere is optimistic about new set up in Washington and role it will play in relations between China and Tibet

Richard Gere says that the 'whole dynamic' in Washington has changed since the Democratic takeover of the U.S. Congress and therefore opens up a window of opportunity in China-Tibet relations. Actor and Tibet activist Richard Gere says after his visit before the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee last week that he sees positive changes in Washington during an interview in Los Angeles, California about his new film "Hoax" on Sunday (March 19). "The whole dynamic in Washington has changed obviously especially with (Congresswoman Nancy) Pelosi being the new Speaker of the House and I have seen these dynamics change radically over the past 20 years and I know a lot of these players. Tom Lantos is know the Chairman of the Foreign Relations committee and he is a old friend of mine, an old Tibet friend, and he called these hearings. This is maybe the third or fourth time I have testified. Congress woman (Ileana) Ros-Lehtinen, from Florida who is a Republican, Tom (Lantos) is so generous I mean she is like a co- partner a co- chairman almost. There is this feeling in Washington that things are possible now. People are being included, that whole exclusive thing that was going on in the last six years that was so damaging to us as a people and us as a functioning congress is now. There is almost a giddiness that things are possible now," Gere told Reuters. Talking to the Dalai Lama offers China's best chance for a peaceful solution in Tibet, U.S. lawmakers and activists said on Tuesday (March 13) arguing that Beijing's refusal to meet the exiled leader is hurting China. China has held five rounds of fruitless talks with the envoy of the Dalai Lama, who fled into exile in India after a failed uprising against Communist rule in 1959, eight years after the Chinese military marched in to annex Tibet. Beijing has rejected dialogue with the Dalai Lama, asserting that the 1989 Nobel Peace Prize winner is a separatist despite his official call for greater autonomy within China for his predominantly Buddhist homeland. "I think there is a way of approaching this that the Chinese should see and will see that is good for them. This is a win- win. To To resolve this situation in the lifetime of the Dalai Lama who is universally respected by Tibetans that they can make a deal that the Tibetans will live up to and will include full forgiveness of the Chinese for all the atrocities against the Tibetans. It is really important from them that they do it now while the Dalai Lama is there to actuate this in a positive way. Another thing is before the 2008 Olympics it's a perfect time for them to do it. I want to see Hu Jintao win the Noble Peace Prize. I want to see Hu Jintao on Time as Man of the Year. I want to see him get everything, full face for having solved this problem in a positive way. So I do see it happening," Gere said at the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills. Gere, testifying to the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, as chairman of the International Campaign for Tibet, said opening the door to the 71-year-old spiritual leader would help Beijing realise its policy goal of a "harmonious society". The Dalai Lama will be awarded the Congressional Gold Medal in October. Gere, who has been barred from visiting China since 1993, also said that waiting until the Dalai Lama's death would be dangerous and short-sighted. Lantos, a California Democrat, expressed concern over deteriorating human rights in Tibet and made the region the subject of his committee's first hearing on China under the new U.S. Congress. Lantos said he would send a letter to Chinese President Hu Jintao urging him to invite the Dalai Lama to visit China before the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

ITN Source | March 22, 2007

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