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| Sunday, 20 March 2005 |
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More assistance for Lankans - Dy Czech FM by M. P. Muttiah Czech Republic's Deputy Foreign Minister Pavl Svaboda expressed his country's solidarity with Sri Lanka on the tsunami crisis.He said the Czech Republic was ready to participate and provide financial assistance for post-tsunami construction. He hoped that government authorities and officials would submit their proposals to the Czech Government. He added that his government had already handed over US $ 100,000 worth of humanitarian assistance to Sri Lanka. Svaboda said that Czech Republic had become a member of the European Union after a one and half decade of friendly relations with it. In fact, it was learning from other EU member-countries in executing its obligations and rights and participated in humanitarian and development activities of the alliance. For example, the tsunami assistance given by it to Sri Lanka was a part of that activity. The Deputy Foreign Minister said the Czech Republic had to establish mutually beneficial relations with the States of former Soviet Union. The significant aspect was that Czech had maintained mutually advantageous economic development and political ties with them. "Our republic is in Central Europe, so we maintain a political and security integration both with our East European neighbours as well as the Western European countries", he added. Svaboda said that the relations with Iraq flourished during the Communist rule in his country. Now Czech was ruled neither by Communists and nor by Socialists. "We did not inherit the past politics. Our republic joined the NATO in 1999 considering its long-term security. Last year it became full member and an integral part of the European Union. Therefore, all our activities in the international arena are within the framework of the EU and as far as the United States is concerned, we look forward for a balanced trans-atlantic relationship". The Deputy Foreign Minister said that Czech had been opened to foreign investment. In 2002, the Foreign Direct Investment in the country's economy was US$8,483 billion. The Economic Intelligent Unit of the European Union had said that Czech Republic would maintain its position in FDI inflow per capita until 2006 at the rate of US $5.8 billion a year. This has happened after the political changes in 1989. "For Foreign Direct Investment confidence and security are the most important aspects", Svaboda said. While pointing out the bilateral and multilateral relations with Asian countries, Svaboda said that it was a very complex problem. "We have established very good relations with India and China. Our foreign policy is based on the respect for human rights. What we want to do is business. Czech Republic had signed a Double Taxation Avoidance Treaty on June 19, 1979. We import more from Sri Lanka than we export. It is favourable to Sri Lanka," the Czech Deputy Foreign Minister said. During his two-day stay in Sri Lanka, Svaboda met Prime Minister Mahinda
Rajapakse and Deputy Foreign Minister Viswa Warnapala. |
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