DEPUTY SECRETARY
ARMITAGE: I have not much to add to this morning’s
proceedings other than to echo what Minister Peiris said
about the international community calling on the LTTE to
resume negotiations immediately. And I must say I would
like to add a personal vote of confidence and thanks to
the government of Japan, for not succumbing to the temptation
to be blackmailed by a group who would not participate in
these proceedings and thereby cancel them. This would not
be appropriate, I think, for the lives of the twenty-odd
million Sri Lankans who only want to have a peaceful and
prosperous future, so I think that one of the more courageous
acts that we’ve seen recently has been the decision
by the government of Japan to go ahead with this conference,
and indeed the 51 donor nations and twenty-odd international
institutions--who not only showed up, but showed up big
in terms of money and moral support--I think speaks very
well for your decision, so well done to you, sir.
. . . .
QUESTION:
My name is Dawn (phonetic). I work for NHK Japan Broadcasting
Corporation. My question is to His Excellency Mr. Zepter
and Mr. Richard Armitage.
The international community
today has pledged $4.5 billion to Sri Lanka. Please comment
upon what does this imply in terms of international support
to conflict resolution; and despite repeated calls, the
LTTE has not participated. How do you interpret this situation
and what are you planning to do about this? I would appreciate
it if you could comment from your respective positions as
well as members of the international community. Thank you.
. . . .
ARMITAGE:
I think that the international community is showing, by
the strength of the pledges here, that they are making a
bet. They’re betting that the people of Sri Lanka
can show the world a way to conflict resolution that will
lead to a multi-ethnic, multi-religious democracy, taking
its proper place in the community of nations. That’s
what the international community, I believe, is saying.
Regarding the reasons for the no-show of the LTTE, as my
colleague has indicated, who can know whether it’s
a sign of their lack of confidence, the ability to work
with the international community, or whether it’s
a sign of internal divisions and a lack of clarity in their
own aims--which I personally suspect, but cannot know for
sure.
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