The European Union's Commissioner for External Relations
Ms. Benita
Ferrero-Waldner was at President's House this afternoon. She expressed her
commiserations to President Chandrika Kumaratunga on the recent natural
disaster. She said her previous visit to Sri Lanka 20 years ago was a
pleasant experience. She said the EU has allotted ? 300 million to assist
the countries affected by the Indian Ocean tsunami of which ? 100 million
has been set aside for Sri Lanka's humanitarian and rebuilding needs.
The President thanked Ms. Ferrero-Waldner for her concern and
said the EU
was one of the first international bodies to come forward to assist Sri
Lanka in the immediate aftermath of the tragedy. She also mentioned India,
Japan and China as the three nations whose effective assistance came almost
immediately after the catastrophe.
Commissioner Ferrero-Waldner, a former Austrian Foreign Minister
said, she
hopes humanitarian assistance flowing into Sri Lanka would reach the needy
and that the Government would soon evolve a joint mechanism to ensure the
equitable distribution of aid to all affected areas. She was optimistic that
the planned joint mechanism with the LTTE to rebuild the lives of the
victims in the North and East would enhance the prospects of recommencing
direct negotiations and building confidence among the people concerned.
President Kumaratunga said the LTTE has been co-operative in several ways in
addressing the needs of the tsunami affected in that part of the country.
The President briefed her on the current moves to establish
a negotiated and
lasting settlement to the conflict within the framework of Oslo Declaration.
The President said she was confident such negotiations could commence sooner
rather than later. However she said certain contentious issues needed to be
ironed out.
President Kumaratunga urged European Union to impress upon
the LTTE the
importance of returning to the table for direct talks without
procrastination.
Associated with the President were W. J. S. Karunaratne, Secretary
to the President, Foreign Secretary H. M. G.
S. Palihakkara and the SG of the Peace Secretariat
Jayantha Dhanapala.
http://www.priu.gov.lk/news_update/Current_Affairs/ca200503/20050307persuade
_ltte_to_return_for_talks.htm
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