Current conditions in Sri Lanka are not conducive for Germany, and a majority of the ‘international community,’ to work with Sri Lanka, the German Ambassador said last week in a speech where he also linked trade increases, foreign investments and development aid, with human rights and the war.
“We have two disagreements with the incumbent government. The first is, we cannot believe in a military solution for a political problem. Secondly, we do not compromise in the field of human rights,” said Ambassador Jurgen Weerth, speaking at a Business for Peace Forum of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka in Colombo.

“The moment you offer an inclusive solution to your people, then we will be prepared to again work with every Sri Lankan. This view is shared by a majority of the international community,” he said. However, the German Ambassador also said double standards applied when dealing with different countries, based on the importance of the country.

“Yes, we apply double standards. It has to do with the role Sri Lanka is playing, or the role of Russia or the role of China. If Sri Lanka were to disappear from our economic map it can be easily replaced. If Russia were to disappear from our economic map, the lights would go out in Germany, because we get electricity from Russia. So your position is not so strong,” said the Ambassador.

At this point German development aid is to go to countries that make the grade in terms of the German yardstick. “We, Germans have decided to concentrate our support on those countries whose governments and political, corporate and community leaders are clearly focussed on their country’s welfare and building a better future for all citizens,” said Mr Weerth.

Trade access into rich countries in the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and the EU (European Union), was also linked with human rights and good governance. In addition, the Ambassador said even foreign investment inflows in to Sri Lanka were discouraged by security concerns, corruption and poor infrastructure.

However, when questioned on the GSP+ extension for Sri Lanka, the ambassador dropped the human rights stand and repeated the standard statement from the European Commission. “The GSP+ is not a political tool, it is a technical operation. The government needs to ratify and implement 27 international conventions,” he said.

But while the government is in Germany’s bad books, the local business sector has scored better. “Traditionally governments deal with governments. We cannot deviate from this. But we know the private sector is the backbone of your economy. So we are exploring ways to support organisations that might be our partners,” said the Ambassador..