Dharamshala: TibetPost-16-April-2009 - The Tibetan Prime Minister, Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche, is scheduled to depart on his journey to the United States today. According to his secretary, the purpose of the Prime Minster's visit to the United States is to "interact with the new administration" and "to visit Tibetan communities". Prof. Samdhong Rinpoche has been in office for eight years and by 2011, when the new Prime Minister (Kalon Tripa) elections will take place, he will have completed two terms in office. It is foreseen that he will meet members of the newly-inducted Obama administration and other representatives of the American government on his visit.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Deputy Speaker of Tibetan Parliament in Exile, Mrs Dolma Gyari are also scheduled to make international visits in coming weeks. His Holiness will be in attendance at several conferences and ceremonies in the United States beginning on 24 April and continuing through the month of May, and Deputy Speaker Gyari will participate in a three-day biennial conference on democracy in Turin, Italy beginning 22 April.
Representatives at the Office of Tibet in New York were unable to provide the Prime Minister's itinerary on his United States visit; upon inquiry at the Prime Minister's office in Dharamshala, the secretary, also, was unable to give the information.