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| Sunday, 3 October 2004 |
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Sri Lanka's foreign policy since 1994 by Prof. A. Sivarajah, Department of Political Science, University of Peradeniya (Continued from last week) Global political changes in the 1990s and Sri Lanka's foreign policy since 1994 (I) 1994-2001 The demise of the Soviet Union and the dismantling of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union as well as the democratic transformation of Eastern Europe, ushered in series of dramatic changes in world politics. To a world that had adjusted itself to a popular division along ideological lines, the events in eastern Europe were nothing short of revolution. Regimes Except Rumania, the other communist regimes made way to popular
democratic movements with ease that rendered the strategic options of
super power detente and demolished the existing theories and perceptions.
As a result the world order gave way to changes. As S. U. Kodikara has pointed out "what we can regard as the main components of the structural changes that has already been effected in the World Order relate to the revolution of 1989 in Eastern Europe, the reunification of Germany, the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, the proposed restructuring of NATO.... and the general reduction of international tension and rivalry arising out of the end of the Cold War and the reduced Soviet profile in world affairs".In the wake of the above changes foreign policies of many countries underwent changes. In the case of Sri Lanka too its foreign policy underwent changes. Essential features of post-cold war global system could be summarized as follows: (i) The leaders of Russia and most of the other States of the former Soviet union no longer consider the US and other capitalist countries their enemies. (ii) Some states that were favoured US Allies during the Cold War, have less claim on the US now that the Cold War is over. (iii) Economics, Environmental and Ecological considerations are eclipsing military and ideological considerations in international relations (iv) Without the pressure to line upon one side or the other of the Cold War, states find themselves baffled by multiplicity associations pulling them in different directions. In the wake of global changes Sri Lanka while maintaining a close friendship with the Russian Federation, the PA administration has endeavoured also to strengthen ties with the other Republics of the former Soviet Union. "Relations with Western Europe including the Nordic region, the USA Canada and Australia, which had been considerably undermined by Sri Lanka's poor human rights record, have undergone much improvement in recent years". According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs under the PA government, comprehensive revamping of operations of the foreign Ministry and Sri Lanka Missions abroad has been undertaken, resulting in the strengthening of the structures and processes and professionalisation of information related work. Further the Ministrys claims that the negative perceptions about Sri Lanka that had hitherto prevailed were countered effectively. The Ministry also claims that the PA Government has taken important steps to instill professionalism in the conduct of its foreign relations. Since 1994 Sri Lanka played host to a number of foreign dignitaries Example: (i) His Holiness Pope John Paul (ii) Prime Minister of Bangladesh (iii) President of Palestine (iv) Secretary General of Commonwealth (v) First Lady of the USA Hilary Clinton The initiative taken by President Chandrika in seeking to resolve the ethnic conflict by devolving power to regional units have been supported by the international community. The PA Government also gave highest priority to the promotion and protection of Human Rights. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs together with the support of expatriate Sri Lankan communities has succeeded to a considerable extent in changing the negative perceptions that had prevailed about Sri Lanka. As a result Sri Lanka's image has improved in the international arena. Bilateral Sri Lanka has made significant visits during the period under review strengthening bilateral relations with countries in the European region in the fields of foreign investment, bilateral trade and financial assistance to Sri Lanka, and on the ethnic issues. The countries in North America have played a dominant role in Sri Lanka's foreign relations. The US Government extended its fullest support for a negotiated settlement for the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka. The PA Government's main strategy has been to attract maximum foreign investment for the Government's development efforts. For example approximately 50 US companies and others with US investment are presently operating in Sri Lanka. In 1977 Sri Lanka received US $3 million under USA aid from 2001 to date. In the general election held on December 5, 2001, the People's Alliance (PA) was defeated by the United National Front (UNF) headed by Ranil Wickremesinghe and formed a government. Immediately after assuming power the UNF government struck a new note in its foreign policy in the initiatives which it has launched to resolve the ethnic crisis following the ceasefire Agreement and the resultant peace process. Negotiations The UNF government endeavoured to enlist the support of the international community in its negotiations with the LTTE for a permanent settlement. For this purpose Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited many countries seeking their support in coping with it. These countries were USA, India and the UK. Visit to India was the most crucial because of India's geo political links with Sri Lanka. The Prime Minister also visited Japan with a view to obtaining its sympathy and support and economic help for the rehabilitation of the North. As Vernon L. B. Mendis observed the, "Oslo Peace conference which was held in Oslo can be regarded as a highlight of the peace process. It was convened by the Government of Norway and was attended by an impressive number of friendly countries and the European Union." Sri Lanka's Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe was invited to address the UN general assembly in October 2003. It was alleged by the opposition that the Prime Minister's speech was supportive of the American led attack on Iraq. Anura Bandaranaike alleged that the Prime Minister's statement offended the Muslim Community in Sri Lanka and proposed a no-confidence motion against Prime Minister in the Parliament. Proposal However this proposal was dropped amidst confusion and contradictory claims in the opposition ranks. Instead of the no confidence motion, an adjournment debate took place on 23rd October 2003. Diverse views prevail in Sri Lanka on the morality of and the manner in which the Gulf war was fought. But the majority challenge the legitimacy of the American led attack on Iraq. At the 5th Session of the India-Sri Lanka joint commission held recently in Sri Lanka, Minister of Commerce and Consumer Affairs Minister Ravi Karunanayake successfully solicited India's support to tackle the quota competition. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe visited India on 20th October 2003 and had a series of meetings with India's political leadership aimed at boosting defence and economic ties. Partnership During the Prime Minister's two-day visit to India it was agreed that India and Sri Lanka will begin "negotiations at the earliest" for the Indo-Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement. It is expected that entering into a CEPA would take the two countries to a qualitatively new level of engagement by intensifying and deepening bilateral economic interaction. India also pledged to forge defence ties with Sri Lanka and said it backed Sri Lanka's efforts to establish a peace mechanism with the LTTE. In a joint statement it was said that "The Two Prime Ministers discussed the on-going cooperation in training and supply of equipment to the Sri Lankan defence forces and agreed that the two sides will commence discussions with a view to conclude a defence cooperation agreement at the earliest". During discussions held between the two Prime Ministers, the Indian PM said that India supports the process of seeking a negotiated settlement acceptable to all sections of Sri Lankan society. The purpose of this study has been to examine whether the changes that have taken place in the internal politics have influenced the changes in the foreign policy of Sri Lanka since 1994, and if there were changes, what were they'. Also to examine whether they were different from the UNP's foreign policy. Relations The examination of Sri Lanka's foreign policy since 1994 to 2001 it is evident that there have been changes in Sri Lanka's foreign policy in three important areas: (i) The suspicion and the destruction that had bedevilled Sri Lanka's relations with India during the UNP regime in (1977-94) have been firmly laid to rest and the two countries have embarked on measures to build an enduring relationship. (ii) The foreign Ministry under the PA government with the support of Expatriate Sri Lankan Communities has succeeded to a considerable extent in changing the negative perceptions about Sri Lanka that had prevailed during the UNP's rule. (iii) PA government has also been successful in revamping of the information related operations of the Foreign Ministry and Sri Lankan Missions abroad, and has taken steps to instill professionalism in the conduct of its foreign relations. The friendly and warm relations existing between Sri Lanka and Pakistan were reaffirmed and further strengthened. The PA Government under the leadership of Chandrika Bandaranaike has played an important role in promoting regional cooperation through the SAARC. For example it was the Colombo summit which suggested the idea of introducing the SAPTA (SAARC) Preferential Trading Arrangements and SAFTA (SAARC Free Trade Area). Under PA Government Sri Lanka's bilateral relations with countries of South East Asia, East Asia and the south Pacific have grown steadily. So have Sri Lanka's relations with countries of the African continent. Since the formation of the Commonwealth of Independent States Sri Lanka under PA Government developed mutually beneficial links with the new Republics of the former Soviet Union whilst maintaining friendly relations with the USA. The examination of Sri Lanka's foreign policy since the new UNF Government took office in 2001 there are some similarities with the PA Government's foreign policy in the following spheres: The missions to India the Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe paid was most crucial. The endeavours of the UNF Government to enlist the support of the international community in its negotiations with the LTTE for a permanent settlement of the ethnic conflict. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's October 2003 visit to India underscores afresh the quantitatively new phase in Indo-Lanka relations. However, the Prime Minister's speech at UNO General assembly was a deviation from the PA foreign policy from 1994 to 2001 which was guided by the principle of non-alignment. Our condition are as follows: There were changes in Sri Lanka's foreign policy since 1994; (a) relations with India (b) enhancing Sri Lanka's image abroad (c) professionalism in the conduct of foreign relations (d) confidence-building on the human rights situation (e) increased bilateral Interaction (f) economic cooperation Our examination of UNF Government's foreign policy since 2001 indicates that the UNF Government was equally successful in establishing a close relationship with India and enlisting the support of the international community for its efforts to find a peaceful settlement to the ethnic conflict. Therefore our hypothesis, namely that a transformation took place in Sri Lanka's foreign policy since 1994 proved to be right. Also our study shows that whenever there is a change in government, the foreign policy of Sri Lanka also changes. |
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