President Rajapakse launches new diplomatic offensive against LTTE among Non-aligned leaders
Mon, 2006-09-18 04:07
Colombo, 18 September, (Asiantribune.com): The 14th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Havana opened up new opportunities for President Mahinda Rajapakse to launch a new diplomatic offensive against the Tamil Tigers on a broad front. NAM gave him a platform to expose the Tamil Tigers as terrorists. Taking sharp aim at them he analyzed the difference between terrorists and liberation fighters. He summed it by saying that terrorists were destructive whereas the liberation fighters were creative.
He also took opportunity to call on heads of states participating in the NAM proceedings to present his policies and initiatives to resolve the Sri Lankan crisis. One of the first appointments was with the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. President Rajapakse briefed the Indian Prime Minister on the current initiatives taken by his government to find a political solution.
The meeting which took place in the sidelines of the 14th NAM Summit yesterday and they also discussed bilateral and international issues.
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse introduces Minister Douglas Devananda, to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India at the NAM Conference in Havana Cuba.
Officials rate president Rajapakse's meeting with United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan as the most fruitful. Both discussed in details the current situation in Sri Lanka and rehabilitation of the displaced.
The president explained to Annan the government's rehabilitation policy and the prompt steps taken to help the displaced civilians in Muttur. The government was able to rehabilitate about 50.000 of the displaced in their original habitats within a short period of one month, he told Kofi Anna.
President also focused on the government's stand on current peace talks. He also highlighted the various terrorist acts of the LTTE. Both discussed LTTE acts of terrorism at length as Kofi Annan was very keen to get all the details. President also explained to Annan about Emphasizing that the government was committed to transparency and accountability he outlined the measures taken to investigate serious accusations against the government. He added that there is a concerted campaign to blacken the image of the government by blaming the government for acts of abductions, harassments and intimidations.
The President also explained his decision to appoint an International Commission to ensure the impartiality and transparency of investigations. He assured Annan that the government was determined to take every possible action within the legal framework of the country to investigate all criminal acts.
Kofi Annan promised that the UN would extend all possible assistance to investigations into human rights violations. any action taken by the government regarding this situation he promised to extend a helping hand to the government's efforts to establish an international commission in the future.
President Rajapakse also held bilateral discussions with several NAM leaders including Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez Frias, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Congo President Denis Sassou Ngueso and Ghana President John Agykum Kufuor.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge also participated in the talks with NAM leaders where bilateral relations and international issues figured prominently.
- Asian Tribune -
Mon, 2006-09-18 04:07
Colombo, 18 September, (Asiantribune.com): The 14th Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Havana opened up new opportunities for President Mahinda Rajapakse to launch a new diplomatic offensive against the Tamil Tigers on a broad front. NAM gave him a platform to expose the Tamil Tigers as terrorists. Taking sharp aim at them he analyzed the difference between terrorists and liberation fighters. He summed it by saying that terrorists were destructive whereas the liberation fighters were creative.
He also took opportunity to call on heads of states participating in the NAM proceedings to present his policies and initiatives to resolve the Sri Lankan crisis. One of the first appointments was with the Indian Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh. President Rajapakse briefed the Indian Prime Minister on the current initiatives taken by his government to find a political solution.
The meeting which took place in the sidelines of the 14th NAM Summit yesterday and they also discussed bilateral and international issues.
Sri Lanka President Mahinda Rajapakse introduces Minister Douglas Devananda, to Dr. Manmohan Singh, Prime Minister of India at the NAM Conference in Havana Cuba.
Officials rate president Rajapakse's meeting with United Nations (UN) Secretary General Kofi Annan as the most fruitful. Both discussed in details the current situation in Sri Lanka and rehabilitation of the displaced.
The president explained to Annan the government's rehabilitation policy and the prompt steps taken to help the displaced civilians in Muttur. The government was able to rehabilitate about 50.000 of the displaced in their original habitats within a short period of one month, he told Kofi Anna.
President also focused on the government's stand on current peace talks. He also highlighted the various terrorist acts of the LTTE. Both discussed LTTE acts of terrorism at length as Kofi Annan was very keen to get all the details. President also explained to Annan about Emphasizing that the government was committed to transparency and accountability he outlined the measures taken to investigate serious accusations against the government. He added that there is a concerted campaign to blacken the image of the government by blaming the government for acts of abductions, harassments and intimidations.
The President also explained his decision to appoint an International Commission to ensure the impartiality and transparency of investigations. He assured Annan that the government was determined to take every possible action within the legal framework of the country to investigate all criminal acts.
Kofi Annan promised that the UN would extend all possible assistance to investigations into human rights violations. any action taken by the government regarding this situation he promised to extend a helping hand to the government's efforts to establish an international commission in the future.
President Rajapakse also held bilateral discussions with several NAM leaders including Malaysian Prime Minister Dato' Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, Maldives President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, Venezuela President Hugo Chavez Frias, South African President Thabo Mbeki, Congo President Denis Sassou Ngueso and Ghana President John Agykum Kufuor.
Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera and Presidential Secretary Lalith Weeratunge also participated in the talks with NAM leaders where bilateral relations and international issues figured prominently.
- Asian Tribune -
