EU Troika Ministerial Meeting with Sri Lanka

The EU Ministerial Troika, led by Hon. Franco Frattini, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Italy, in his capacity of President of the EU Council, and composed of Hon. Brian Cowen, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Ireland, Hon. Javier Solana, EU High Representative for Common Foreign and Security Policy, and Hon. Christopher Patten, Commissioner for External Relations, met in New York on the sidelines of U.N.G.A., on 25 September, 2003, the Delegation of the Sri Lanka Government led by Hon. Ranil Wickremesinghe, Prime Minister, and composed of Hon. Tyronne Fernando, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Hon. Milinda Moragoda, Minister of Economic Reform, Science and Technology.

The meeting commenced with Prime Minister Wickremesinghe presenting to the EU side his Government's assessment of the current status of the peace process. The Prime Minister emphasized that the Government had taken on board the LTTE's representations as to the need for an effective mechanism for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the North and the East, and had to that end presented proposals for an Interim Administration.

Minister Frattini, speaking on behalf of the Presidency and the Troika of the European Union, said the EU remains committed to an ongoing role in Sri Lanka, in partnership with its Tokyo Conference co-chairs, and in particular with regard to Norway's role as facilitator. The EU hopes that the result of LTTE's internal consultative process on the Government's proposal for an Interim Administration will lead to their resuming the Peace talks at an early stage, with a view to ensuring that the peace dividends reach people in all parts of the country.

The European Union Troika encouraged both parties to the Peace Process to strictly adhere to the provisions of the Ceasefire Agreement, which it sees as the cornerstone of the Peace Process, and to accept the rulings of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.

Recalling the conclusions of the Tokyo Conference and particularly the linkage of the assistance pledged by the Donor Countries to substantial and parallel progress in the Peace Process, the Troika affirmed that the EU intended to continue to monitor such progress in the search for a lasting and equitable political solution based upon respect for human rights, democracy and the rule of law securing the interests of all peoples and communities within a united Sri Lanka.

The Troika also welcomed the Government's efforts towards economic reform, since however difficult the measures may initially be, their ultimate success in the form of increased growth, would contribute positively and in an integral manner to the endeavours for national reconciliation.

In this context, the Troika - in reaffirming the importance of urgent humanitarian and rehabilitation assistance in the North and East - recalled as well the willingness of the donor community - as clearly stated by the Tokyo Declaration - to assist in the development of the entire country, and therefore also of the South.

The Troika noted that Commissioner Patten may, at the invitation of the Government, visit Sri Lanka later on during the current Italian Presidency of the European Union. This visit would be a further manifestation of the EU's readiness to assist the people of Sri Lanka in their quest for peace.

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• Joint Statement on situation in Sri Lanka (4/11/2003)