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Message: <blockquote data-quote="lkdood" data-source="post: 7741051" data-attributes="member: 92282"><img src="http://www.dailymirror.lk/images/EU%289%29.jpg" alt="" class="fr-fic fr-dii fr-draggable " style="" />Despite the government saying it will not have further dialogue with the  European Union (EU) to seek an extension of the GSP plus trade  benefits, the EU says it is willing to hold further talks on the matter  if the Sri Lankan government so wishes.The Brussels based European Commission press officer for Trade Marie  Antonie Kerwien speaking to Daily Mirror online said that so far, the  government of Sri Lanka has made its views known only to the media and  so the EU would therefore prefer to attend the official answer of Sri  Lanka before communicating its next step. However the press officer noted that the European Commission remains  committed to support Sri Lanka in its efforts to tackle the challenges  it faces in terms of human rights, reconstruction and reconciliation and  if Sri Lanka so wishes, is ready to continue the dialogue on the  necessary steps to bring the country into compliance with the relevant  international conventions and to become again eligible for GSP+ benefits  in the future. The spokesperson stressed that so far discussions with high-level Sri  Lankan officials have been held in a constructive atmosphere with a view  to agreeing a set of rapid, verifiable and sustainable measures to  address failings identified in the European Commission investigation. In their letter EU High Representative/Vice-President Catherine Ashton  and Commissioner De Gucht invited the Government of Sri Lanka to respond  to the concerns by 1st of July and give a written commitment to  implement some recommendations in order to obtain a temporary extension  of the GSP for the country which ends in August this year. However External Affairs Minister G.L. Peiris told reporters this week  that the cabinet which convened under President Mahinda Rajapakse on  Wednesday had strongly rejected the conditions put forward by the EU. Minister Peiris said that among the conditions put forward by the EU was  for the government to remove the emergency regulations, repeal the  Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) and the implementation of the 17th  amendment. The Minister further said that the government will not continue dialogue  with the EU on the specific matter of the GSP plus trade benefits. dailymirror</blockquote>

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