Major diplomatic victory for Sri Lanka at CHOGM

By P. Krishnaswamy

Sri Lanka achieved a major diplomatic triumph at CHOGM 2011, Deputy Minister of External Affairs Neomal Perera said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

Minister Perera said the Sri Lankan delegation was able to clearly articulate its points of view at CHOGM 2011 and the vast majority of Member Nations were fully supportive of Sri Lanka.

He said the SAARC region would gain even more strength after the Maldives SAARC Summit next week. It is fast becoming a regional geopolitical force, he said.

Excerpts of the interview:

Q: The Sri Lankan delegation headed by President Mahinda Rajapaksa attended the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Perth, Australia at a time when an array of accusations, on war crimes and related issues, were being levelled against the Government by certain member nations. Do you believe that our delegation countered these allegations effectively and convincingly?

A: Firstly those accusations were not convincing to a large majority of the member nations. All documents, video clippings, and issues raised were baseless. Nearly two and half years after ending the terrorist threat, after eliminating from the face of this country and the region the most ruthless terrorist organisation and restoring peace and harmony to the Northern and Eastern people in particular and to the country in general, our Government went ahead with the processes of resettlement, reconciliation and development in the affected regions. These were very successful.

But the people who were bent upon accusing the Government for their own reasons with ulterior motives did not convey the true picture to the leaders of the respective countries. But President Mahinda Rajapaksa very effectively countered those accusations at the CHOGM and spoke resolutely on the sovereign and territorial rights of our country.

The LTTE terrorists based in Sri Lanka were posing a threat not only to countries in the region, like India and Pakistan, but also to countries outside the region, including the European countries, the US, Canada and Australia.

They were involved in human trafficking, drug smuggling, purchase and supplies of weapons operating clandestine vessels.

The President informed the 54 member countries that attended the CHOGM of the peaceful and harmonious situation prevailing in the country, including in the Northern and Eastern provinces.

After listening to his speech , the Queen and the Heads of member nations/their representatives expressed delight. Many of them would visit Sri Lanka even before the CHOGM 2013. I feel that diplomats of some foreign missions in Colombo are not doing their duty. They are not conveying the true situation prevailing here and what our President is doing.

Q: What is your general impression of the attitude towards Sri Lanka of member countries that were present at the CHOGM ?

A: Well, a large majority of the delegates at the CHOGM warmly welcomed us everywhere we went, other than delegates of a few countries which had been misinformed by persons with ulterior motives.

The Heads of State or delegates of these few countries also were convinced of the realities on ground and the development work underway when our President talked to them. Also there was a conference in Sri Lanka of parliamentarians from many countries last week. They were taken to Jaffna to meet the people. A Government Minister from Uruguay who is a human rights activist is one among them. I had met him some time ago in Uruguay.

He had come here with the impression that many atrocities are taking place in this country. He told me that he was surprised to see the reality. He talked to Opposition leaders, other political parties and to the people. He could not believe that so much development work together with resettlement of a huge number of people is possible in a short period after a 30 year long conflict. I felt very proud when he praised President Rajapaksa and Government for what has been achieved.

Q: India and South Africa stood by Sri Lanka when the question of deferring the venue of the 2013 CHOGM was raised. Your comments please?

A: India and Sri Lanka are very close to each other in many respects. We are happy that India is our immediate neighbour. Ninety percent of the credit for the eradication of terrorism from the face of this country goes to India.

Congress leader and former Indian PM Rajiv Gandhi did so much for us and his wife, the present Congress Party leader, Sonia Gandhi ,extended us all assistance for eliminating the terrorist outfit. On the other hand the people of India and the Government are grateful to us for eliminating the most brutal and ruthless terrorists who assassinated Rajiv Gandhi in a most cruel manner.

It is Rajiv Gandhi who opened the doors of India to all modern technology. I personally know the difference before Rajiv Gandhi and after him because I was studying in India at that time. India is a very strong country and the largest democracy in the world, with a population of 1.8 Billion. India is a strength to us and we are proud to be her neighbour.

Q: One burning issue that remains unsettled for long between India and Sri Lanka is the fishermen's cross-border issue. Do you think this will be settled before too long?

A: Our fishermen have been straying into their territorial waters and vice versa. Fishermen in any part of the region are one community, they speak the fishermen's language and they understand one another.

The major issue is not border-crossing but the methods of fishing. Sri Lanka is committed to ensuring the sustainability of the fisheries industry and we want to pass it onto our future generations. Bottom trawler fishing, usage of mono-filament nets and causing damages to the coral reefs and fish breeding grounds are activities which Sri Lanka has banned.

We have a policy on improving and developing the fisheries industry and the resources. So we request India or any other country not to violate these fishing regulations to the detriment of the sustainability of the industry. Once this problem is addressed then it will be easy to resolve the other issues.

Q: Your comments on the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) proposed by India?

A: We already have the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with India. Sri Lanka's trade deficit is very high. India should waive some more import regulations and provide us more opportunities for exporting our products.

I would like to cite one example. Indian investors in Sri Lanka manufactured and exported 'Vanaspathy' to India on a large scale.

But this was discontinued due to objections from India. But it was included as an export item in the FTA with India. What is primarily needed for workable trade or economic agreements between the two countries is narrowing down the trade deficit.

We are a small nation with only 20 million people and our people in the North and East have suffered for so long. Any future agreements should be to the benefit of the Northern and Eastern people. India should take steps for enabling and helping us to enter the huge Indian market.

Q: British PM David Cameron has cited some flimsy reasons to cut down on aid to Sri Lanka. Do you think there should be other reasons to this decision other than what he cites?

A: David Cameron is a gentleman politician. May be he has been misinformed by interested parties. Australia too adopted a similar attitude. If our President gets a chance to meet him and explain things, I am sure, that attitude will change.

We were a British colony and we had contributed to their economy and welfare. We are a developing country and Britain and all member nations of the Commonwealth which are developed countries should share their technologies and expertise with us and help us boost our economy, instead of finding reasons to cut down on aid.

They must not allow their local politics to impede us in our development goals and economic progress. Sri Lanka has a lot of opportunities to offer them. The world focus is now on the Asian region. We can offer them many opportunities, including opportunities to enter the huge Indian market through the FTA. They can reach markets in Pakistan and other countries in the region as well. We are strategically placed on the maritime route between the West and the East.

Netherlands and France have indicted and imprisoned persons having links with pro-LTTE organisations in their countries. We are thankful to these countries and I believe that the other countries will also follow suit.

Q: Our country's delegation to the CHOGM in Perth, headed by the President, also held bilateral talks with several Heads of State and leaders of the business community. What kind of result can we expect from these talks?

A: We held very successful talks on investments and mutual trade. Chairman of the Bank of Ceylon and myself want to invite business leaders and heads of multinational companies to visit Sri Lanka before the business forum meeting to be held during the CHOGM 2013 so that they could see for themselves what opportunities are available in Sri Lanka that are not available in any other country and what facilities are provided by the Government.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa addressed the Business Forum in Perth and all were convinced and they wanted to visit Sri Lanka. There will be global business giants and heads of multinational companies who will be visiting, speaking and promoting Sri Lanka at the CHOGM 2013.

Q: Some sections of the local media have commented that the Government delegation was not aware of the pro-LTTE propaganda campaigns to be unleashed at the Perth CHOGM and therefore was not able to counter such propaganda. Your comments?

A: Our delegation was well informed of all the activities of some sections of the diaspora community and of the Court case . Our embassies in all countries keep us informed of all such pro-LTTE activities. Our Defence Secretary was aware of the security threats - not necessarily with weapons but propaganda to tarnish the country's image. We do not talk about it to the media so, presumably, they had concluded that we were not prepared to counter it. I pity the media who make such stupid comments.

Q: What among the resolutions at the Perth CHOGM are relevant to Sri Lanka?

A: Eradication of Polio, empowerment of women, equal rights to men and women, equal opportunities for education, freedom of expression and opportunities for marketing local products. The Perth CHOGM brought together a larger number of countries than ever before.

Q: Did the Commonwealth Eminent Persons Report on Sri Lanka come up for discussion?

A: Meeting of Eminent Persons, Foreign Ministers and the Business Forum were held separately but the reports were sent to the main meeting. At every forum the relevant matters came up for discussion.

Q: The LLRC report is to be released shortly. Do you believe it will be convincing to the international community ?

A: Individuals with ulterior motives cannot be convinced. But Governments and government leaders who have been misinformed by such persons, I believe, will be convinced. We will implement the report in our own interest under the laws of the land. The President has told that it will be made public after its presentation to Parliament.

The implementation process will take long. The report contains what was reported, what was recorded in evidence and what was found out after inquiries. It does not contain anything that is in your mind or in my mind. Some aspects of the report's recommendations and suggestions have already been implemented which the leaders of some countries do not know.

They do not know because their advisors on international political matters have not told them. Through our foreign missions, we are giving publicity to it. Institutions or persons found guilty can seek legal remedy under the prevailing legal system.

Q: How do the CHOGM meeting benefit and Commonwealth Games developing nations?

A: One point which our President made at a breakfast meeting in Perth is that holding the Commonwealth Games in a developing country, including in Sri Lanka, will give them the opportunity to have themselves - their cultures, traditions, history, natural resources and investment facilities - exposed and brought to the notice of the outside world.

The people of those countries will have the rare opportunity of participating in an international event. The developed countries should allow such events to be held in developing countries instead of contesting or trying to prevent it. The President said that one country that already got the event should not get it repeatedly.

In fact Australia got the Commonwealth Games on four occasions.They should think of a country that lost all such opportunities for 30 long years and the people of the North and East who suffered that long. In the future the main focus of the world will be on Asia. A peaceful and tranquil Sri Lanka can offer them many opportunities.

Q: The next SAARC summit is to be held in the Maldives. Do you think that SAARC as a regional organisation would play a dominant role in international politics and economy?

A: In Asia, SAARC will be a global player. No one thought when SAARC was formed that it will transform into such a powerful organisation.

wIt is in a strong position today. It will go from strength to strength since the global focus is now on this region.