The recent meeting of Sri Lankan External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris with US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton in Washington was "very successful", said Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Robert O Blake in an interview with rediff.com.

He said US had welcomed the steps taken by the Sri Lankan government including the forming of a Reconciliation Commission.

When pointed out that critics have slammed the Reconciliation Commission as a sham, Blake said that "We always believe that it's best to have domestic answers to these very serious problems that exist because those in the long run -- if they are credible and independent and really get to the bottom of whatever the issue is -- will be much more acceptable domestically," he said.

Speaking with regard to the resettlement of the displaced civilians the Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs said "the US would coordinate closely with India to resettle the displaced Tamils."

The US and India are in sync with their foreign policy toward Sri Lanka, particularly over the repatriation of the remaining 40,000 plus internally displaced persons after the government's victory over the LTTE, said Mr. Robert O Blake.

Expressing views regard to hearing charges against General Sarath Fonseka Blake said, "We were pleased to hear that whatever decisions are made by the military courts, which are now considering the two different charges against General Fonseka, will be reviewed by higher Sri Lankan civilian courts that that will be done in a public manner, so that there will be an assurance of due process," he said.