*EPF405 08/22/2002
Text: Armitage Hopeful on Upcoming Sri Lanka ?Tamil Talks
(Calls for reconciliation and unity after visiting Jaffna) (800)

Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage arrived in Sri Lanka August 22, the first stop on his six-day trip to South Asia and Southeast Asia.

In a statement released August 22, Armitage described U.S. ?Sri Lankan relations as being "broad and as strong as they have ever been."

He praised the ceasefire agreement between the government of Sri Lanka and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), and said that although upcoming talks between the two sides in Thailand would be difficult, "both parties have indicated an intent -- we hope a sincere one -- to choose peace over war, reconciliation over division."

"We sense that the conditions are favorable for such a desirable outcome," he said.

Armitage said he hoped the upcoming negotiations would "give Tamils and every other citizen in this country a stake and security in Sri Lanka and keep the country united," and he thanked the Norwegian government for its role in furthering reconciliation between the parties.

Armitage issued his statement after traveling to Jaffna and Chavakachcheri, and after meeting with representatives from the People��s Alliance, the Tamil National Alliance and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

After concluding his visit to Sri Lanka, Armitage plans to arrive in India August 23.

Following is the text of a statement issued by Deputy Secretary Armitage in Sri Lanka August 22:

(begin text)

Statement by Richard L. Armitage, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State
during his visit to Sri Lanka, August 22-23, 2002

Deputy Secretary Armitage issued the following statement during his visit to Sri Lanka, his first stop in a five-nation tour of South and Southeast Asia.

This is my first visit to Sri Lanka as Deputy Secretary of State. I have come at what is clearly and important moment in Sri Lanka��s history. As your know, the United States Government has expressed its strong support for the existing ceasefire agreement and for the recently announced upcoming talks between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).

During the Prime Minister��s recent visit to the United States, President Bush and Secretary Powell applauded his efforts to end Sri Lanka��s long civil conflict. As the Sri Lankan government has supported the United States in its struggle against terrorism, we have supported the Sri Lankan Government��s policy on ending the war here.

The upcoming negotiations will be difficult. There will certainly be setbacks. By agreeing to meet in Thailand, however, both parties have indicated an intent - we hope a sincere one ?to choose peace over war, reconciliation over division. The people of Sri Lanka - Tamil, Sinhalese, Muslims ?as well as the international community expect the government and LTTE to move forward in the negotiations towards a permanent settlement of the conflict that will give Tamils and every other citizen in this country a stake and security in Sri Lanka and keep the country united. We salute the efforts of the Norwegian government in facilitating and advancing this process of national reconciliation.

I was privileged to visit Jaffna earlier today. In the company of Minister of Economic Reform Milinda Moragoda, I visited the site where a U.S. demining team is at work and the forward defense lines of the Sri Lankan military; toured Chavakachcheri to see first hand the horrific damage caused by the war; and spoke with Jaffna community leaders on the peace process. Altogether it was an informative experience and I greatly appreciate the Sri Lankan Government��s assistance in making the trip possible.

Earlier today, I also had the opportunity to meet representatives from the People��s Alliance, the Tamil National Alliance and Sri Lanka Muslim Congress. I told all of them that the United States wishes to see a peaceful settlement of the civil conflict. We sense that the conditions are favorable for such a desirable outcome.

The relations between Sri Lanka and United States are broad and as strong as they have ever been. Through our mutual efforts they will continue to improve.

(end text)

(Distributed by the Office of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

Return to Public File Main Page

Return to Public Table of Contents