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Troops
to go but US pledge firm "Just as the USA has stood with Sri Lanka every step of the way during the peace process, we will stand with Sri Lanka every step of the way in this crisis," Charge d' Affaires at the US Embassy in Colombo James Entwistle told reporters at a press briefing yesterday. "We are here for the long haul. We are not going anywhere," he said. He said the nature of US assistance was evolving and the tsunami assistance to Sri Lanka has entered a new phase with the military completing its primary missions in Galle, Ampara and Jaffna while the US civilian assistance is increasing and focusing more on long term recovery. Mr. Entwistle said that military relations with Sri Lanka and the Maldives - where the US had around 100 marines and sailors - was a long one and if there was a need for such a presence in the future, the US would consider it. However he said the US presence in Sri Lanka since December was 100 per cent tsunami-related and contrary to some newspaper reports there were no other plans for the US military presence here. He also said the US troops had worked in co-operation with troops from India and said they had kept in contact on a daily basis during their work in Sri Lanka. Asked if the US military presence here had made any difference to US relations with the LTTE, Mr. Entwistle said that they were encouraged by reports that the Governmental and the LTTE were working together to get relief to the tsunami affected people but otherwise there was no charge in the US position regarding the LTTE. Brigadier General Frank A.Panter, Commander of the Combined Support Group-Sri Lanka said the US troops will return to their home stations within the next two weeks but a small transitional team will stay on to assist the Embassy when needed. The Brigadier General paid tribute to both the Sri Lanka military as well as civilians saying that their courage in the face of the terrible tragedy was an inspiration. The US had around 1,600 troops in Sri Lanka at the height of the operations here. |
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