14 April 2003
Armitage Urges Support for "Momentum of Peace" in Sri Lanka
(Hosts international conference on Sri Lanka at State Department)
(1640)
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage opened an international
conference on Sri Lanka on April 14 at the State Department by calling
for international support for the "momentum of peace" in Sri Lanka.
The Washington conference is a prelude to the Tokyo Conference on
Reconstruction and Development of Sri Lanka, to be hosted by Japan in
June. In Washington, representatives from 21 countries and 16
international organizations gathered to discuss the Sri Lanka peace
negotiations, and international assistance for development and
reconstruction in Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan Minister Moragoda, Norwegian State Secretary Helgesen, and
Japanese Government Special Advisor Akashi made presentations, and the
IMF, World Bank and USAID briefed on Sri Lanka's economic situation
and development needs.
"We can be a force for peace in Sri Lanka," Armitage said. "This is an
opportunity to show that when nations of good will join together and
work as partners with international institutions and organizations, so
much is possible -- so much more than any one nation or entity can
achieve."
The Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) began formal peace negotiations in September 2002 after nearly
20 years of civil conflict. The ceasefire agreed to by both parties
has held for more than a year.
Noting that the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE had met on six
occasions, Armitage said those meetings produced important agreements,
as well as concessions from both sides, including a shared political
understanding of the future.
Moral and material support from the international community is
essential to the Sri Lanka peace process, Armitage said.
"Indeed, I believe the negotiations between the Government of Sri
Lanka and the LTTE have reached an important point, one where an
infusion of international support can add an unstoppable force to this
momentum of peace," he said.
Following is the text of Deputy Secretary Armitage's opening remarks
at the Washington Seminar on Sri Lanka:
(begin text)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
For Immediate Release
April 14, 2003
Opening Remarks
Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage At The Washington Seminar
on Sri Lanka
April 14, 2003 Loy Auditorium Washington, D.C.
(10:00 a.m. EDT)
DEPUTY SECRETARY ARMITAGE: Well, thank you all very much. Jim, thank
you for your kind introduction. I very much appreciate the presence of
all of you here today.
For those of us who live in Washington, we're often treated to
reminders of the vibrancy of this democracy. That's a way of saying
demonstrations are practically a way of life to us. Indeed, I think
many of you who work with the Fund or the Bank have had many occasions
to enjoy this particular treat, as well. But I hope that no one had
too much trouble getting here this morning and, as I said, I'm
extraordinarily grateful to all of you for taking the trouble to be
here this morning.
It is a diverse group which gathers here in these troubled times. We
represent nations from nearly every continent, international financial
institutions bigger and more complex than some nations, and
organizations with a variety of missions and means. But it is my hope
that one concern, one worthwhile cause might unite us this morning and
that each of us might leave here today connected by a thread of
intent; that we can, by working together, be a force for peace. More
specifically, that we can be a force for peace in Sri Lanka.
I traveled to Sri Lanka last summer, as Jim mentioned, for the second
time in my life. My first visit was in 1983 on the eve of a terrible
and destructive civil war -- one that has since claimed more than
65,000 souls. My return last summer came about six months into the
ceasefire to that conflict. I saw nothing of the time in between, so
for me in a sense the years fell away. The change was truly shocking.
Back then Sri Lanka was a charming, island nation with an educated
populace, a dynamic economy, and strong institutions of democracy. And
now it is a nation stunted by war with a populace weary to the bones
of bearing the cost of fighting, and a territory that is, in places,
nearly as desolate as a moonscape.
And I saw something else on my last visit. I saw Sri Lanka as it could
be: a thriving, multi-faceted society once again enjoying peace and
enjoying prosperity. And it was the Sri Lankans themselves who showed
me that vision. Because finally, finally it is a vision they all,
Muslims and Buddhists, Christians and Hindus, Sinhalese and Tamils --
it is a vision that they can all see a way in which to share.
And that is essentially why the United States is engaged in the
current efforts to build peace. And that is why I want to interest all
of you today in this very endeavor because this is something that can
be done, and I believe it is something that can only be done with the
work and the support of many hands. And, indeed, there are already
many hands involved.
Norway, represented today by my friend, Secretary Helgesen, deserves
much credit for bringing the warring parties to the negotiating table,
and helping the warring parties to stay there. And Japan, represented
today by Special Advisor Akashi, has been most generous with its
considerable development acumen to include sponsoring an upcoming
Donors Conference in June, one that I believe will offer tremendous
benefits to all parties who attend -- and, of course, most
importantly, to the people of Sri Lanka.
Of course, the key participants in June will be the parties to the
conflict. And it is their willingness to reach a resolution that is
providing the momentum to this peace process. To date, the government
of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, the LTTE, have
agreed to a cease-fire, a cease-fire which has held more than a year.
Their representatives, including my friend Minister Milinda Moragoda,
who will speak to you next, they have met in direct talks in six
separate sessions so far. And those meetings have produced a number of
important agreements, as well as concessions from both sides,
including a shared political understanding of the future.
In the background, the people of Sri Lanka have responded with
optimism. More than 300,000 displaced persons have returned to
war-ravaged areas in the north and in the east of the country. Flights
have resumed between Colombo and Jaffna, and the normal commerce and
trade of civic life have rediscovered their cross-country routes.
And while you will have a chance to hear from Sri Lanka, Norway, and
Japan today about progress in the negotiations and the next steps,
there is one partner to peace that is today conspicuous in its
absence, and that is the LTTE. Now I know the Tigers are unhappy about
their exclusion today, but let me explain their absence. The United
States placed the LTTE on our list of foreign terrorists organizations
back in 1997. That designation carries with it legal restrictions
including a prohibition on issuing visas to members of the
organization for entry into the United States. And while it is safe to
say that the United States is encouraged by the recent behavior of the
LTTE, we do not yet see a rationale for lifting the designation as a
foreign terrorist organization. Our position is crystal clear. The
LTTE must unequivocally renounce terrorism, in word and in deed, if we
are to consider withdrawing the designation. I think it is fair to say
with the way the current negotiations are going, the United States can
see a future for the LTTE as a legitimate political organization, but
it is still up to the LTTE to change this situation. It is up to them
to demonstrate that they are capable and worthy of such legitimacy.
For the LTTE and for the Government of Sri Lanka there are still many
obstacles to overcome. Difficult issues still need to be addressed.
And while much will depend on their political will, the success of the
peace process ultimately will depend on tangible results. And it may
well be that such results, at least in the near term, are simply
beyond Sri Lanka's means, especially as it engages in a program of
sweeping economic reforms. And that is why international support, both
moral support and materiel support, is essential if Sri Lanka's quest
for peace is to succeed.
Indeed, I believe the negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka
and the LTTE have reached an important point, one where an infusion of
international support can add an unstoppable force to this momentum of
peace. This is an opportunity to show that when nations of good will
join together and work as partners with international institutions and
organizations, so much is possible -- so much more than any one nation
or entity can achieve alone.
Now, I know this is a principle everyone in this room believes by
instinct as well as by intellect, but it is a point that must be
proven at every possible opportunity. So I welcome this chance to
discuss with all of you the situation in Sri Lanka, to answer or to
attempt to answer, along with the assembled experts, any questions
about the ways in which international assistance can help to move the
process forward and perhaps to arrive at some benchmarks of progress
the Sri Lankans should be prepared to meet in order to secure such
assistance.
So again, I end where I began. I thank you all heartily for attending
this conference today and look forward to the interaction with you.
Thank you.
(end text)
(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S.
Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
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