US welcomes signing of agreement on Joint Mechanism

[TamilNet, Monday, 27 June 2005, 09:02 GMT]
Welcoming the signing of the agreement to create a joint mechanism on tsunami reconstruction, Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo in a press release ssued on Monday said that the mechanism, if implemented properly, will help to ensure efficient and equitable reconstruction assistance to those whose lives were devastated by the South Asia tsunami in the North and East of Sri Lanka. The US statement urged both parties to take all possible steps to see that the ceasefire is observed and strengthened.

Fulltext of the press release follows:

Statement on the Signing of the Joint Mechanism on Tsunami Aid Distribution

Colombo, June 27, 2005: United States Department of State Spokesman Sean McCormack issued the following statement in Washington on June 24, 2005.

"The United States welcomes the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam decision to sign an agreement to create a joint mechanism on tsunami reconstruction. If implemented properly, this mechanism will help to ensure efficient and equitable reconstruction assistance to those whose lives were devastated by the South Asia tsunami in the North and East of Sri Lanka. We hope the experience the two sides will gain by working together will help to build confidence and lead to progress in the broader peace process. It is even more important now that the two parties take all possible steps to see that the ceasefire is observed and strengthened."