ID :
43025
Thu, 01/29/2009 - 14:49
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/43025
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Lanka should address pol aspect of Tamil issue: Mukherjee
Colombo/New Delhi, Jan 28 (PTI) Worried about the safety
of civilian Tamils in Sri Lanka, India has asked Colombo to
quickly move from military victories to political aspect of
addressing the ethnic problem so that normalcy is restored in
the northern areas as soon as possible.
India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who
held talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was assured by
the Sri Lankan leader that he intended to address the problem
politically and in this direction is ready to implement and
even improve upon the Devolution Package that gives certain
rights and privileges to ethnic Tamils.
Mukherjee, who rushed to Colombo Tuesday to discuss the
latest situation in the island nation, said the Sri Lankan
government has reassured him that they would respect the "safe
zones" and minimise the effects of conflict on Tamil
civilians.
He also conveyed India's readiness to participate in
reconstruction of northern Sri Lanka "to overcome the ravages
of war" and also to "lay the economic and political
foundations of a strong peace in which all communities feel
comfortable" in the island nation.
"I stressed that military victories offer a political
opportunity to restore life to normalcy in the northern
province and throughout Sri Lanka, after 23 years of
conflict," Mukherjee told reporters in Colombo.
"The President assured me that this was his intent,"
Mukherjee said, adding India will work with Sri Lanka to
"enable all Sri Lankans, particularly the Tamil community who
have borne the brunt of effects of the conflict, to lead
normal lives as soon as possible."
"An early restoration of normal democratic life in the
areas affected by the conflict would be a major contribution
to peace and stability. India will do all that it can to bring
this about, working with all those who work for this goal with
us," Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee also said he would communicate the invitation
extended by Rajapaksa to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi and AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha to visit Sri
Lanka. Rajapaksa extended a personal invitation to an all
party delegation from Tamil Nadu led by the two leaders.
This is to see for themselves the situation on the ground
and to persuade the LTTE to lay down arms and join the
democratic mainstream, Mukherjee said.
As Sri Lankan troops move to clear the remaining LTTE
areas, Rajapaksa has assured that his government wanted Tamils
in the country to lead a normal life at the earliest.
Stating that relations between India and Sri Lanka had
touched a new high, Rajapaksa told the visiting Indian
Minister that the island nation wanted to move quickly towards
a devolution package under the 13th amendment in constitution
which followed the India-Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987.
"Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee held detailed, useful and productive discussions
with President Mahinda Rajapaksa last night," a statement from
the Sri Lankan President's office said today.
The visit that followed Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv
Shankar Menon's trip to Lanka came following an invitation
from Rajapaksa to Mukherjee, it said.
"This is in keeping with the tradition of regular and
constructive dialogue between India and Sri Lanka at the
highest level," the statement added.
"The discussions covered recent developments in Sri
Lanka, the entire gamut of India-Sri Lanka relations and
regional issues of mutual interest.
"It was agreed that India-Sri Lanka relations are
developing strongly and have matured into an abiding
friendship. It is particularly important at this time of
transition and change that both sides should continue to
strengthen ties," it said.
The President assured the visiting Indian Minister of his
intent for both countries to work together to enable Sri
Lankans, and particularly the Tamil community in the North, to
begin leading normal lives as soon as possible, it said.
"We also reviewed the humanitarian situation as a result
of the conflict," Mukherjee said adding, "the Sri Lankan
Government has reassured that they would respect the safe
zones and minimise effects of conflict on Tamil civilians".
"As you know, India has extended its relief supplies to
civilians caught up in the zone of conflict and intends to
continue doing so," Mukherjee told reporters.
Mukherjee said India will be working together on a
reconstruction plan for conflict-hit areas which will involve
infrastructure and other support and he was "happy to be
informed of progress towards the establishment of a 500 MW
thermal power project near Trincomalee by NTPC from India".
"The Indian side will continue to extend its relief
supplies to civilians caught up in the zone of conflict," the
statement by the Presidential secretariat said. PTI TVS
RKM
NNNN
of civilian Tamils in Sri Lanka, India has asked Colombo to
quickly move from military victories to political aspect of
addressing the ethnic problem so that normalcy is restored in
the northern areas as soon as possible.
India's External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, who
held talks with President Mahinda Rajapaksa, was assured by
the Sri Lankan leader that he intended to address the problem
politically and in this direction is ready to implement and
even improve upon the Devolution Package that gives certain
rights and privileges to ethnic Tamils.
Mukherjee, who rushed to Colombo Tuesday to discuss the
latest situation in the island nation, said the Sri Lankan
government has reassured him that they would respect the "safe
zones" and minimise the effects of conflict on Tamil
civilians.
He also conveyed India's readiness to participate in
reconstruction of northern Sri Lanka "to overcome the ravages
of war" and also to "lay the economic and political
foundations of a strong peace in which all communities feel
comfortable" in the island nation.
"I stressed that military victories offer a political
opportunity to restore life to normalcy in the northern
province and throughout Sri Lanka, after 23 years of
conflict," Mukherjee told reporters in Colombo.
"The President assured me that this was his intent,"
Mukherjee said, adding India will work with Sri Lanka to
"enable all Sri Lankans, particularly the Tamil community who
have borne the brunt of effects of the conflict, to lead
normal lives as soon as possible."
"An early restoration of normal democratic life in the
areas affected by the conflict would be a major contribution
to peace and stability. India will do all that it can to bring
this about, working with all those who work for this goal with
us," Mukherjee said.
Mukherjee also said he would communicate the invitation
extended by Rajapaksa to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M
Karunanidhi and AIADMK leader J Jayalalitha to visit Sri
Lanka. Rajapaksa extended a personal invitation to an all
party delegation from Tamil Nadu led by the two leaders.
This is to see for themselves the situation on the ground
and to persuade the LTTE to lay down arms and join the
democratic mainstream, Mukherjee said.
As Sri Lankan troops move to clear the remaining LTTE
areas, Rajapaksa has assured that his government wanted Tamils
in the country to lead a normal life at the earliest.
Stating that relations between India and Sri Lanka had
touched a new high, Rajapaksa told the visiting Indian
Minister that the island nation wanted to move quickly towards
a devolution package under the 13th amendment in constitution
which followed the India-Sri Lanka Agreement of 1987.
"Visiting Indian External Affairs Minister Pranab
Mukherjee held detailed, useful and productive discussions
with President Mahinda Rajapaksa last night," a statement from
the Sri Lankan President's office said today.
The visit that followed Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv
Shankar Menon's trip to Lanka came following an invitation
from Rajapaksa to Mukherjee, it said.
"This is in keeping with the tradition of regular and
constructive dialogue between India and Sri Lanka at the
highest level," the statement added.
"The discussions covered recent developments in Sri
Lanka, the entire gamut of India-Sri Lanka relations and
regional issues of mutual interest.
"It was agreed that India-Sri Lanka relations are
developing strongly and have matured into an abiding
friendship. It is particularly important at this time of
transition and change that both sides should continue to
strengthen ties," it said.
The President assured the visiting Indian Minister of his
intent for both countries to work together to enable Sri
Lankans, and particularly the Tamil community in the North, to
begin leading normal lives as soon as possible, it said.
"We also reviewed the humanitarian situation as a result
of the conflict," Mukherjee said adding, "the Sri Lankan
Government has reassured that they would respect the safe
zones and minimise effects of conflict on Tamil civilians".
"As you know, India has extended its relief supplies to
civilians caught up in the zone of conflict and intends to
continue doing so," Mukherjee told reporters.
Mukherjee said India will be working together on a
reconstruction plan for conflict-hit areas which will involve
infrastructure and other support and he was "happy to be
informed of progress towards the establishment of a 500 MW
thermal power project near Trincomalee by NTPC from India".
"The Indian side will continue to extend its relief
supplies to civilians caught up in the zone of conflict," the
statement by the Presidential secretariat said. PTI TVS
RKM
NNNN
