The Co chairs of the Tokyo Donors Conference have welcomed Government efforts and readiness to send a humanitarian convoy of essential supplies via the A9 route to Jaffna and allow INGOs with a proven track record immediate access to uncleared areas to restart their relief work. The Co – Chairs have called on the LTTE to co-operate with such initiatives.

The Co –chairs issued a Press Statement on November 21, 2006 in Washington at the conclusion of a two-day Conference on the conflict in Sri Lanka. The Conference was attended by Norway, USA, Japan, and the European Union.

The Co chairs have further recognized Government efforts to provide essential supplies by its own efforts to people affected by the conflict, and welcomed the establishment by the Government of the Consultative Committee on Humanitarian Assistance which is addressing several humanitarian access issues for international agencies.

The Co chairs have further welcomed the progress made by the Government in establishing a Commission of Inquiry for Human Rights with international observers to bring to justice those responsible for recent killings and assassinations.

The Co chairs have condemned the LTTE for initiating hostilities from heavily populated areas, and called for protective zones for internally displaced persons . In this context, it must be noted that the Government’s proposal for the creation of ‘Safe Havens’ for IDPs in Vakarai has not been accepted by the LTTE.

The Co chairs have called for further negotiations between the Government and the LTTE without pre –conditions.

The Co chairs have welcomed the agreement between the Sri Lankan Freedom Party and the opposition United National Party to join hands in solving this question, and called for the legitimate interests and aspirations of all communities, including the Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala communities to be accommodated as part of a political settlement .

The Co – chairs refer to ceasefire violations by both sides but it is noted that the campaign of terror launched by the LTTE has resulted in thousands of deaths of service personnel and civilians.

In a separate Press Statement issued at the conclusion of the two-day Co-Chairs meeting the US Undersecretary of State, Mr. Nicholas Burns said that the USA supported the Government of Sri Lanka and they were not neutral in respect of this conflict.

Burns further said that the USA did not have two approaches on Sri Lanka. His country viewed the Tigers as being greatly responsible for the recent bloodshed. Tigers were a terrorist organisation responsible for innocent deaths. USA believed that the LTTE were the main cause of the trouble.

Burns added that the USA believed that the Government of Sri Lanka had the right to protect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.

“ We are also working with the GOSL as a partner in Counter terrorism,” Burns concluded.