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Tuesday, October 20, 2009 - 3.45 GMT |
Sri Lanka will continue engagement with EU in spirit of mutual respect
Sovereignty asserted in non-participation with EU “probe” on GSP+ |
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The
Government
of Sri
Lanka
will
continue
to
engage
with the
European
Institutions,
in-keeping
with the
spirit
of
transparency
and
mutual
respect
that is
appropriate
to the
historic
and long
standing
relationship
between
Europe
and Sri
Lanka,
following
the
report
of the
European
Commission
on GSP+
related
issues
handed
over
yesterday
(19).
It will,
therefore
closely
study
the
European
Commission
Report
on the
implementation
of UN
Conventions
relevant
to the
GSP+
benefits
that
were of
concern
to the
EC,,
said the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
in a
statement
issued
yesterday.
The EC
Report
followed
a GSP+
“investigation”
on Sri
Lanka
launched
a year
ago, at
a time
when the
Government
was on
the
verge of
ending
30 years
of
terrorism
in the
country.
It did
not
participate
in this
“investigation”
and also
refused
a
request
for
“experts”
to visit
Sri
Lanka as
a matter
of
principle,
as it
was felt
inappropriate
for Sri
Lanka as
a
sovereign
state to
participate
in such
a
process.
Such
participation
was also
considered
unnecessary
given
the
numerous
on-going
processes
with
between
the GoSL
and the
UN
system,
as well
as
between
the GoSL
and the
EU, the
Foreign
Ministry
said.
Here
is the
text of
the
statement
by the
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
:
The
European
Commission
(EC) on
Monday
19
October
2009
handed
over to
the
Government
of Sri
Lanka (GoSL)
its
report
on Sri
Lanka’s
implementation
of 3 of
the 27
UN
Conventions
relevant
to its
GSP+
benefits
that
were of
concern
to the
EC.
The Note
from the
Directorate
General
for
Trade of
the
European
Commission
forwarding
the EC
Report
to the
Mission
of Sri
Lanka in
Brussels
stated
“the
Commission
will now
decide
whether
to
propose
a
temporary
withdrawal
of the
special
incentive
arrangement
for
sustainable
development
and good
governance
provided
for
under
Council
Regulation
(EC) No.
732/2008”.
The Note
goes on
to add
“if the
Government
of Sri
Lanka
wishes
to make
any
representations
on this
matter
or
specifically
in
relation
to the
Commission
Report
in
annex,
it is
kindly
requested
to bring
these to
the
Commission’s
attention
no later
than 6
November
2009
...........”.
It would
be
recalled
that the
GSP+
“investigation”
on Sri
Lanka by
the EC
was
launched
a year
ago, at
a time
the GoSL
was on
the
verge of
ending
30 years
of
terrorism
in Sri
Lanka.
The GoSL
did not
participate
in the
process
of the
GSP+
“investigation”
and
refused
a
request
for
“experts”
to visit
Sri
Lanka as
a matter
of
principle,
as it
was felt
inappropriate
for Sri
Lanka as
a
sovereign
state to
participate
in such
a
process
and to
be
unnecessary
given
the
numerous
on-going
processes
both
between
the GoSL
and the
UN
system,
as well
as
between
the GoSL
and the
EU.
While
not
cooperating
with the
process
of
“investigation”,
the GoSL
continued
to
engage
with the
EC on
the
issues
of
mutual
interest
through
existing
diplomatic
channels,
a fact
acknowledged
in the
EC
Report.
The GoSL
for its
part
will
continue
to
engage
with the
European
Institutions,
in-keeping
with the
spirit
of
transparency
and
mutual
respect
that is
appropriate
to the
historic
and long
standing
relationship
between
Europe
and Sri
Lanka.
The GoSL
will
therefore
closely
study
the EC
report.
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