Negotiated settlement, not war, the only solution - President Kumaratunga 

[February 25, 2003 - 10.00 GMT]

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga spoke strongly against war, saying sufficient evidence had still not been seen to justify an armed attack on Iraq, “We are strongly of the view that a negotiated settlement can be arrived at, without using violence against Iraq.”

The President addressing the NAM Summit stressed the need for an appraisal of a new role, vision and plan of action for NAM, “focusing on the urgent need for sustainable economic development of each Member State.”

Sixty-three heads of state and government attended the two-day XIIIth NAM Summit themed “Continuing the Revitalisation of NAM in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on 24-25 February 2003. This is the largest number of Heads of State and Government in attendance at a NAM Summit.

President Kumaratunga proposed that NAM could collectively formulate a comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism. She went on to say that Sri Lanka’s stand on the issue was clear on the side of non-intervention, in a sovereign State, without the fullest and due approvals by the UN systems.

“We have noted that the UN Weapons Inspectors have stated in their last report to the Security Council, (10 days ago,) that Iraq is cooperating in the process of inspection and progress made on many issues”, she said.

“We urge that this Summit adopts a resolution to urge all Governments to exercise maximum restraint in this issue,” said President Kumaratunga.

Earlier, the new Chairman of NAM, Prime Minister of Malaysia, Dato Seri Dr Mahathir Mohamad in his address at the opening of NAM reacted strongly to the impending war on Iraq calling for all wars to be outlawed and all weapons of mass destruction to be destroyed.

“War solves nothing. War is primitive. Today's war is more primitive than Stone Age wars. The targets are not the fighters, the combatants. The targets are the ordinary civilians, the women, children and old people. Whether it is terror attacks or military action, these are the victims”, he said.

“The fundamental challenge to our Movement remains that of addressing the domination of the world by a select few, now no longer divided into opposing blocs. We have lost the option to defect to the other side. The only way we can protect ourselves is to close ranks and adopt common stands,” he added.

The Malaysian Premier pledged his country would work vigorously to oppose war, “including the war against Iraq and to ensure the success of this our Movement.”

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Last Updated Date: February 25, 2003  - 10.00 GMT.