News
|
||||
US
behind Lanka's efforts to set up JM Dr. Rice made these observation when Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar met with her on Friday at the State Department, marking the first meeting with Dr. Rice, since she assumed duties as US Secretary of State, the release said. Dr. Rice said the US government remained committed to assist Sri Lanka as it recovers from the effects of tsunami and noted that the US was "comfortable with the progress" made by Sri Lanka in this regard and satisfied that "the reconstruction funds were being spent in an equitable manner", the release added. Minister Kadirgamar arrived in Washington after participating in the 25th anniversary celebrations of CNN in Atlanta, during which he was a member of a panel which discussed "Tsunami - six months later". Minister Kadirgamar and Dr. Rice reviewed bi-lateral relations and issues of mutual interest. The Minister briefed Dr. Rice in detail of the efforts being made by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga to evolve a consensus on the operation of a Joint Mechanism for the specific purpose of dealing with the immediate humanitarian situation at hand, the press release added. He emphasised that while the Joint Mechanism was not part of the peace process, the Government was conscious that its successful implementation could serve as a confidence building measure between the Government and the LTTE, the release said. He noted that there were several sections of the Sri Lankan polity that were opposed to it. Besides the JVP and the JHU, concerns had been expressed by the Muslim community as well as several democratic Tamil groups, the press release said. Minister Kadirgamar said the President was currently engaged in a process of consultation, but that the time will come when the process of consultation will have to end and for the leadership to lead, it added. He noted that unfortunately recent acts of the LTTE were not helping in the process of generating confidence among the groups that had reservations in this regard. The continued acts of violence, recruitment of child soldiers, procurement of weapons and the construction of an airfield and acquisition of air capability by the LTTE were matters of serious concern, the release said. Dr. Rice was quoted as saying that the US remained strongly committed to ensuring that democratic principles were adhered to, and the framework evolved should be one that brings democracy to the entire country. She said the US government took serious note of the LTTE's acquisition of air capability. Dr Rice also accepted an invitation by Minister Kadirgamar to visit Sri Lanka at an early date. |
||||
Copyright © 2001 Wijeya Newspapers
Ltd. All rights reserved. |
