"Cease violence, foster a conducive environment for talks," US urges GoSL, LTTE

[TamilNet, Thursday, 12 October 2006, 11:43 GMT]
The United States is deeply concerned that ongoing violence in Sri Lanka is putting the agreement to return to talks in Geneva in October 28-29 at risk, the US Embassy in Colombo said in a press release issued on Wednesday. "We call on both sides to cease hostilities immediately and foster an environment that is conducive to holding productive discussions in Geneva," the statement said.

Full text of the press release issued by the US Embassy in Colombo follows:

U.S.CONCERNED VIOLENCE COULD ENDANGER TALKS

Washington D.C., October 11, 2006 – State Department spokesman Sean McCormack issued the following statement during the State Department’s daily press conference on October 11th :

The United States welcomes the agreement between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to return to talks October 28-29 in Geneva, but is deeply concerned that ongoing violence in Sri Lanka is putting the agreement at risk. We call on both sides to cease hostilities immediately and foster an environment that is conducive to holding productive discussions in Geneva. We also urge both sides to ensure that non-government entities involved in humanitarian relief efforts are provided access to conflict-affected areas. It is imperative that human rights be respected and protected in all areas of Sri Lanka.

We welcome the Government’s initiative in creating a Commission of Inquiry on human rights and encourage the Government to reach agreement with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry that will meet international standards.

The United States strongly supports the ongoing Norwegian peace facilitation efforts. We continue to coordinate closely with the other Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donors’ Conference – Norway, Japan, and the European Union – to find a way forward to an end to the violence and human rights violations in Sri Lanka and a return to negotiations between the parties.