Dharamshala: On the joyous and auspicious occasion of Losar, while conveying our sincere appreciation for the warm greetings extended by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Department of Information & International Relation (DIIR), Central Tibetan Administration, heartily welcomes the appointment of Mr. Riley M. Barnes, the Assistant Secretary of State, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor as the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.
In consistent with the Tibet Policy Act and the subsequent US legislations on Tibet, we hope that Assistant Secretary Barnes will spearhead the US efforts to promote resumption of dialogue between His Holiness the Dalai Lama or His representatives and the Government of People’s Republic of China, protect the unique religious, cultural and linguistic identity of the Tibetan people and facilitate humanitarian programs to promote sustainable development of the Tibetan community in exile represented by the Central Tibetan Administration.
DIIR Secretary Karma Choeying remarked, “We are indeed grateful to President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio for this important appointment and congratulate Assistant Secretary Mr. Riley M. Barnes on his new role as the US Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.
The people and the Government of the United States have been one of the strongest supporters of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan cause, and we have always enjoyed consistent and bipartisan support in the US Congress. We remain always grateful to the Government and people of the United States.
Department of Information & International Relations
Central Tibetan Administration
Date: 18 February 2026
