Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today the appointment of Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs Maria Otero to serve concurrently as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues. As Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, Under Secretary Otero will coordinate the U.S. Government’s policies, programs and projects on Tibetan issues within the context of our bilateral relationship with the People’s Republic of China.
Specifically, she will seek to foster an environment to promote substantive discussion between the Dalai Lama‘s representatives and the Chinese Government, as well as support initiatives to help safeguard Tibet’s unique culture. In the previous Administration, the Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs also concurrently served as the Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues.
Ms. Otero has extensive management and international development experience. As the former CEO of the major microfinance organization, ACCION International, Under Secretary Otero brings a wealth of experience to implement the Obama Administration’s agenda on a broad range of issues.
Maria Otero was sworn in on August 10, 2009 as the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs. In addition to her responsibilities as Special Coordinator for Tibetan Issues, she also oversees and coordinates the work of the Bureaus of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor; Oceans, Environment and Science; and Population, Refugees and Migration; and the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons.