Foreign Policy
In the area of foreign policy, I
must begin by saying that I intend to ensure continuity
of the foreign policy of our Government.
In its broadest sense, we will follow
a foreign policy of friendship with all and enmity towards
none. To this end we will be guided by the principles
espoused by the Non Aligned Movement and the developing
countries, wherever these principles and our national
interests converge. We will build on our solid and very
close bilateral relationships with our immediate neighbours
of the sub-region, as well as our friends in Asia. We
will further strengthen our relations with the rest
of the world. Sri Lanka will continue to be a consensus
builder in the international arena in keeping with the
long standing tradition of Sri Lankan diplomacy. We
have done so in several landmark international issues,
ranging from the Law of the Sea to disarmament, and
from combating terrorism to promoting human rights.
It is in the same spirit of contributing to international
consensus building that we have offered the nomination
of our countryman Jayantha Dhanapala as Asia's nominee
for the UN Secretary General post.
My personal commitment as a human
rights campaigner at the grass roots level, makes me
accord priority to the promotion and protection of human
rights in all our international endeavours. I hope to
build upon a very positive and proactive role played
by Sri Lanka in promoting human rights. We will do this
through international cooperation and not through confrontation.
As far as domestic measures are concerned, I am pleased
to inform you that one of my priority tasks would be
to adopt a Charter of Human Rights, based on international
conventions, as an integral part of any constitutional
change we may have. I have already given this commitment
in my statement in Parliament last Friday.
We will continue to play an active
role in the United Nations and other multilateral bodies,
as well as in sub regional and regional forums. We will
be constructive and creative in contributing to efforts
at regional and multilateral levels, to support national
activities for economic development, humanitarian assistance
and conflict resolution.
Greater efforts will be made to widen
and deepen the economic content of our foreign policy
efforts and foreign relations activities, as already
initiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the
Ministry of Finance.
As I stated in Parliament, my Government
is committed to achieving a 8% growth rate for which
I will aggressively pursue foreign investment, including
FDI and private sector partnership. This we will do,
within the framework of the Millennium Development Goals
[MDG] and a priority programme for poverty reduction.
To this end, we will continue to pursue the foreign
investor friendly policy package we already have.
On this occasion I must express my gratitude to all
our development partners for their generous support
towards rehabilitation and reconstruction in Sri Lanka,
following the Tsunami disaster. I welcome in particular,
the debt relief and substantial aid provided to rebuild
infrastructure and restore livelihood. I am also encouraged
by your continued assistance for reconstruction and
development in the conflict affected areas. I am certain
that we all agree that development is essential to peace
making, as well as consolidating and sustaining peace.
I would also like to assure you that donor coordination
will be further streamlined in order to optimize our
development partnership for promoting peace and development.
I also propose to very strongly pursue
and promote broad based bipartisan support for our foreign
policy initiatives. This approach has been the hallmark
of our foreign relations since independence.
Peace Process
With regard to achieving lasting
peace through a negotiated political solution, I have
already given the broad policy outlines of my approach
in my statement after the swearing in on 19th November
2005. My deep commitment to pursuing the process through
broad based consultations and with the assistance of
all those friendly countries, which have helped us in
the past, needs no reiteration. In this regard, I have
directed the Foreign Minister and the Peace Secretariat
to initiate consultations with the Co- chairs - Japan,
the United States, the EU and Norway.
To me the peace process is not about
posturing to win favour with anyone, nationally or internationally.
It is about resolving a very complex issue that has
polarized the very fabric of our society. My agenda
is very clear, the process of achieving peace must be
founded on trust and confidence. Most importantly, peace
must be built on commitments that can be delivered in
full. It is towards this end that I build consensus
within the political landscape, so that the agreements
that we reach at peace talks are fully deliverable.
Notwithstanding the incidents in
the North and in the East in the run-up to and on the
day of the Presidential Election, I hope the LTTE will
not henceforth be negative to the free and fair exercise
of the franchise at all levels of future elections.
I also hope they will respond positively to my call
for talks without delay. What I have outlined is an
approach based on democracy, human rights, transparency
and simplicity. I wish to start work in consultation
with all stakeholders.
In this regard I welcome Mr. Prabhakaran's
remarks yesterday recognizing my pragmatic approach
and my invitation to talks, as extending the hand of
friendship. Let me use this occasion, to reiterate my
invitation to Mr. Prabhakaran for talks.
We can resume work immediately on
reviewing the operation ceasefire, whilst we prepare
ourselves for eventual substantive talks leading to
a lasting solution. These processes can work in parallel
and not necessarily sequentially.
I reaffirm my Government's commitment
to continue the ceasefire. I hope the LTTE will heed
the call of the people in Sri Lanka and the international
community, by fully complying with the ceasefire, especially
those provisions relating to observance of human rights,
such as refraining from the recruitment of child soldiers,
political killings, abductions, and other illegal activities.
I should mention that, after over
three and a half years of the ceasefire, it is time
to take a look at the operation of the ceasefire agreement,
and how its implementation can be made more effective
and enforceable, than it is now.
The people in Sri Lanka have expressed
their confidence in the views I have explained about
the peace process. I have pointed out that it is very
essential to make the process more transparent. I intend
to make the peace process more open and more inclusive
than it is now. We are talking about a peace for all
the people of this country.
The international community has been
very supportive of the peace making efforts in our country,
especially in the much needed efforts to reconstruct
the damage caused by decades of destruction. While appreciating,
the generous financial assistance extended by our development
partners, my Government will devote a particular priority
towards accelerating the reconstruction and development
in the North and in the East, in order to effectively
enhance earning capacities. This will ensure the maximum
availability of the peace dividend to the people. We
also need international assistance to ensure that peace
making is not at the cost of democracy and pluralism
for the people of the North and East. These are inalienable
rights.
I thank you for your attention
and look forward to meeting with you bilaterally for
further discussions.
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