Govt. meets with reps of Nordic countries to discuss SLMM future; rejects rationale behind LTTE decision on SLMM [Thursday, July 27, 2006 - 8.15 GMT]

Dr Palitha Kohona, Secretary General of SCOPP and Ms Geetha De Silva, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday met with the diplomatic representatives of the Nordic countries resident in Sri Lanka to discuss the future of the SLMM in view of the LTTE threat to the citizens of the EU member states in the SLMM.

It was pointed out that the threat by the LTTE to withdraw security guarantees for the EU citizens in the SLMM will severely cripple the functioning of the SLMM and that this may be the LTTE’s goal. The Government totally rejected the rationale behind the LTTE’s decision as the SLMM monitors do not represent their home countries, but function under the common banner of the SLMM as international civil officers.

The Government pointed out that the EU listing of the LTTE was in keeping with the proper procedures when dealing with terrorists and that the LTTE’s wish to expel EU member countries from the SLMM showed its disrespectful attitude towards the international community and of accepted standards of civilized behaviour.

It was also impressed upon the diplomatic representatives of the need to remain steadfast against the threats of the LTTE, a terrorist group, due to the precedent that this would set, which would also reflect on the responses of the international community to terrorism globally.

It was also pointed out that the attitude of the LTTE was totally at variance with the rules of international behaviour as agreements solemnly concluded could be varied only in accord with their own provisions or in consultation with the other parties and not capriciously and unilaterally.

Diplomats representing the Ambassador, Royal Norwegian Embassy in Sri Lanka, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Sweden in Sri Lanka, Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of Iceland in Sri Lanka, and the Minister-Counsellor (Resident in Colombo) of the Royal Danish Embassy, New Delhi, attended the meeting.

 PRINT THIS STORY

Contact Information: Send mail to gosl@presidentsl.org with questions or comments about this web site. 
Last Updated Date: July 27, 2006 -8.15 GMT