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United States Welcomes Resumption of Sri Lankan Peace Talks

26 January 2006

Negotiations to take place in Geneva at end of February, State Department says

The United States welcomes an agreement by the Sri Lankan government and rebels to resume talks aimed at ending two decades of civil war, according to a statement issued by State Department spokesman Sean McCormack January 26.

"We believe that the people of Sri Lanka desperately want to see an end to years of conflict.  The United States will continue to support them as they take steps to bring peace and stability to their country," McCormack said.

The Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have agreed to resume peace talks in Geneva at the end of February.

Violence between the government and rebels has been rising in recent months, putting at risk a cease-fire that was struck in February 2002.  More than 60,000 people have died during two decades of conflict in Sri Lanka.

The spokesman said that during Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns January 23 trip to Sri Lanka, the under secretary said the long conflict will end only when the LTTE and the government resume discussions, and the LTTE are convinced to stop using violence and acts of terror as political weapons.  Speaking to reporters in Colombo, Sri Lanka, January 23, Burns outlined three goals of the United States’ diplomatic efforts in Sri Lanka: “To reinforce the ceasefire; to convince the parties to agree to resume negotiations; and to see those negotiations succeed so that peace can be restored.” (See related article.)

For additional information on U.S. policy, see South Asia.

Following is the text of McCormack's statement: 

(begin text)

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
January 25, 2006

STATEMENT BY SEAN MCCORMACK, SPOKESMAN

Sri Lanka - Agreement to Hold Peace Talks in February in Geneva

The United States welcomes the agreement by the Sri Lankan government and Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to hold peace talks in February in Geneva.  We commend Special Envoy Erik Solheim for his effort to advance this positive development and fully support Norway's facilitation of the peace process.

As Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns said during his January 23 trip to Sri Lanka, this long conflict will end only when the LTTE and the government resume discussions, and the LTTE are convinced to stop using violence and acts of terror as political weapons.

The United States and the other Co-chairs of the Tokyo Donors' Conference - the European Union, Japan and Norway - have called repeatedly for a return to the negotiating table to work towards a stable permanent peace.  The United States remains fully committed to the Sri Lankan peace process.

The United States commends the Sri Lankan government for its restraint in the face of recent provocative attacks and fully supports its efforts as it advances towards peace.  We support the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.  We call on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take immediate action to prevent violence and to uphold the terms of the Ceasefire Agreement.

We believe that the people of Sri Lanka desperately want to see an end to years of conflict.  The United States will continue to support them as they take steps to bring peace and stability to their country.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)