Since its opening yesterday
morning, this has been an extraordinary conference, permeated
with a strong and prevailing will to support the peace process
in Sri Lanka and to help the country to regain its rapid
pace of development. The Prime Minister of Japan opened
the meeting with enthusiastic commitment of his country
to contribute to the consolidation of peace in troubled
areas of the world, and pointed to Sri Lanka as a country
of focused attention by Japan. The Prime Minister of Sri
Lanka expressed his total commitment to peace and reconstruction
of his country, to settle differences with the LTTE, to
introduce more efficient and improved political and administrative
arrangements and to infuse a greater dynamism into government.
Deputy Secretary of State of the United States expressed
strong engagement of his country and himself to give all
necessary support to the Sri Lankan peace process and called
upon the Government and the LTTE to work expeditiously towards
a peaceful resolution of their differences based on renunciation
of violence, democracy and human rights. Other co-chairs,
Norway and the European Union [the Presidency and Commission]
also demonstrated their full support to Sri Lanka in its
pursuit for peace and the resolution of the ethnic conflict
through dialogue. In my opinion, all countries and international
organizations who spoke were unanimous in their manifest
desire to see the peace process through to its successful
conclusion as soon as possible.
Underlining their remarks
was a clear hope and expectation to see Sri Lanka become
a successful example of a country resolving its long-standing
ethnic conflict through peaceful means. The pervading feeling
was that the international community must show its solidarity
with the people of Sri Lanka at this difficult transition
from conflict to peace and prosperity. The absence of the
LTTE from the Conference was deeply regretted, and widely
shared opinion was expressed for the early return of the
LTTE to resume peace negotiations under the able impartial
facilitation by Norway.
As one of the co-chairs
and the host country, Japan considers that the Conference
has succeeded in attaining its twofold objectives; namely,
for the international community (a) to demonstrate its strong
and unified commitment to the reconstruction and development
of Sri Lanka, as well as to (b) encourage the Government
of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to redouble their efforts to make
further progress in the peace process. To be honest, there
had been lingering doubts before the Conference about wisdom
of holding of the Conference in the absence of the LTTE,
but these doubts have largely been dissipated, as the Conference
has proven to be a unique and historic opportunity for the
international community to express its unanimous support
to a negotiated settlement in Sri Lanka, building on a significant
progress already attained through six sessions of peace
negotiations between the parties carried out with great
competence on both sides.
It is remarkable that the
participating donor countries and international organizations
together have expressed their willingness to extend assistance
to Sri Lanka to a cumulative estimated amount in excess
of US $ 4.5 billion over the four year period through 2003
to 2006. Many have stated that their commitments are based
upon the assumption of a viable peace process. Some have
specified significant part of their assistance to the North
and East of the country. It is important to note that a
number of donors indicated that the disbursement of their
assistance would keep pace with satisfactory progress in
the peace process. There was also an indication from some
that, given such progress, additional commitments could
be considered in some cases.
There is an expectation
from the donor community that its generous assistance must
be distributed by the Government in a way to ensure accountable,
transparent, speedy, and efficient implementation of projects.
In the case of the North and East, the Government would
work in partnership with the LTTE and with adequate safeguards
for the interest of all communities. The Government and
the LTTE are encouraged to reach agreement on an innovative
administrative structure of reconstruction and development
of the North and East. The donor community stressed also
the importance of bringing tangible dividends of peace to
all the people of Sri Lanka, and that a lasting and equitable
political settlement of conflict has to be based on respect
for human rights, democracy, and rule of law.
In short, the international
community has expressed its vote of confidence in the Sri
Lankan people and its Government to strive their utmost
effort towards a speedy, peaceful, and equitable settlement
of the ethnic conflict, afflicting the country for the past
two decades. It is clear that in the minds of many a clear
linkage exists between the assistance committed and the
peace to be achieved. It is self-evident that peace in Sri
Lanka has to be based on a set of objectives and milestones,
reflecting universal principles of human rights and democracy.
Lastly, Japan will
work closely with the other co-chairs to undertake necessary
consultations to establish modalities for monitoring and
reviewing the progress in the peace process, which, in the
opinion of all of us, is intimately linked to the assistance
programs. Japan, as the host of the Conference, intends
to convey its outcome to the LTTE as expeditiously as possible,
since the LTTE is a party with obvious interests in the
results of our Conference. We are confident that the firm
commitment to Sri Lankan peace and development expressed
at this Conference will generate fresh resolve and strong
political momentum to revitalize the peace process.
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