New Delhi
4 January 2008
Taking a hands-off approach to developments in Sri Lanka, India on Friday
said that a reduction in levels of violence should go hand in hand with a political settlement of
the decades-old ethnic conflict in the island nation.
"For India, any step that leads to a reduction in levels of violence and human suffering in Sri
Lanka is welcome. Unfortunately, what we have seen recently has been an increase in violence,
tension and conflict in Sri Lanka," the Ministry of External Affairs said.
"At the same time, we are acutely conscious that what is required in Sri Lanka is a settlement of
political, constitutional and other issues within the framework of united Sri Lanka with which all
communities in Sri Lanka are comfortable," the statement read.
New Delhi iterated that there is no military solution of the conflict. "It is only through such a
settlement that a lasting peace can return to that troubled country. We strongly believe that
there is no military solution to the issue," the statement added.
An explanation of India's nuanced approach towards the developments in Sri Lanka came from
Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee. "We had to pay a very heavy price for
developments in Sri Lanka. An important leader of this country has been a victim of terrorism
and it has been clearly established who was behind it," he told the Press Trust of India (PTI.) Mr
Mukherjee sought to suggest that India's concern over the situation in Sri Lanka, therefore, was
different from that of other countries.
Mr Mukherjee said that India condemns terrorism in all forms and manifestations. India has a
policy of "zero tolerance" of terrorism, he added for good measure, but asserted that India was
at the same time aware of the "legitimate aspirations" of the Tamil community in the island
nation. Those legitimate aspirations should be fulfilled within the "arrangements in Sri Lanka,
within its territorial integrity and framework of Sri Lankan constitution," he said, and hoped that
Colombo will take the recommendations of the All Party Representative Committee for
devolution of powers to "logical conclusion".
India's diffidence generally towards developments in her immediate neighbourhood and,
specifically, Sri Lanka, was met with a degree of disbelief by visiting European Commissioner
for External Relations Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Mrs Ferrero-Waldner, who met with National
Security Adviser on Friday, insisted that India is uniquely positioned to advance peace and
democracy in the region and beyond. She suggested that a country like India, which is aspiring
for a permanent seat at the horseshoe table of the United Nations Security Council, should strike
a balance between rights and responsibilities and take up a global role.
On Sri Lanka, Mrs Ferrero-Waldner said that Colombo's decision to terminate the ceasefire
agreement is "very, very disappointing." She added that the European Commission is of the firm
belief that "peace through war" is not a solution, even if it leads to "decapitating" a party to the
conflict.
New Delhi has indicated that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will not be in a hurry to visit Sri
Lanka. The last Indian head of government to undertake a bilateral visit to Sri Lanka was the late
Rajiv Gandhi in 1987.
Colombo, nevertheless, has sought to suggest that Prime Minister Singh's visit to Sri Lanka
could happen as early as next month, coinciding with Sri Lanka's 60th independence
anniversary celebrations on February 4.
Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Rohitha Bogollagama hoped that Prime Minister Singh will
undertake a bilateral visit later this year. India is expected to take part in the SAARC Summit in
Sri Lanka.
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