Dharamshala: USAID Mission Director Steve Olive, accompanied by Mark Tegenfeldt, Office Director, GDO; Balaka Dey, Development Assistance Specialist, GDO; and Martha Van Lieshout, Team Lead, USAID/India DOC Team, visited the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile on 25th November 2024.
They were warmly received by Deputy Speaker Dolma Tsering Teykhang, who guided them on a tour of the parliament hall. This was followed by a meeting with the Deputy Speaker and members of the Standing Committee at the Standing Committee’s hall.
Welcoming the delegation, the Deputy Speaker expressed her sincere gratitude to the United States and its people for their unwavering support of Tibet’s just cause. She specifically acknowledged the U.S. for adopting numerous bills and resolutions in support of Tibet, as well as for its continued assistance to the Tibetan people in sustaining their democratic system and promoting their welfare through various ongoing programs under USAID.
The delegation’s visit to Dharamshala underscored the fact that the Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) is the legitimate representative of the Tibetan people worldwide. Their visit to the seat of the CTA would offer them a deeper understanding of its structure, initiatives, and other important aspects of its work.
Further discussing the recently held COP29 climate conference in Azerbaijan, the Deputy Speaker called for scientific research on the Tibetan Plateau under the framework of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). She emphasized the significant role of the Tibetan Plateau in global climate patterns, pointing out its impact on climate change through the loss of pasturelands, the thinning of glaciers, and the flow of its rivers. She also urged for the inclusion of a representative from the Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile at future climate conferences to raise awareness about Tibet’s environmental crisis on the global stage.
As a former educator, the Deputy Speaker also underscored the importance of education for Tibetan children, particularly higher specialized education. She appealed for more seats to be made available to Tibetans in the Tibetan Scholarship Program (TSP) under the U.S. Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA), which provides opportunities for Tibetans to excel in their chosen fields of study.
The meeting concluded with a discussion between the USAID Mission Director and members of the Standing Committee on various ongoing and upcoming programs and projects.
