Mexico assures support for Sri Lanka
Mexico has reassured Sri Lanka of its firm support at international
fora, including the UN Security Council. Mexico is holding the
presidency of the Security Council in April.
Mexico confirmed that they do not have any intention of permitting
the Sri Lankan situation to be placed on the Security Council agenda, as
it does not pose a threat to international peace and security.
This is a sequel to talks in Mexcio City between Foreign Secretary,
Dr. Palitha Kohona and senior Mexican government officials, including
Vice Minister Gomez-Robledo. A press release issued by the Foreign
Affairs Ministry in Colombo yesterday said:
�Dr. Kohana explained how the LTTE had cleverly �herded� thousands of
civilians into the tiny no-fire-zone in the North East of Sri Lanka,
while pulling back its combatants and weapons also into it with the
intention of sheltering behind this human shield and using these
thousands of human hostages to save itself.
�He repeated the call of the Government to the LTTE to let these
hostages go (which will automatically result in a cessation of
hostilities) and lay down their weapons for the sake of the civilians.
�The Mexican authorities expressed their understanding of the dilemma
confronting Sri Lanka in view the fiendish circumstances deliberately
manipulated by the LTTE and offered to do everything possible to bring
the civilians out to safety.
�Mexico also expressed its appreciation of the large quantities of
food and medical relief supplies being sent by the Government to the
people held hostage by the LTTE with the assistance of the UN and the
ICRC.
Dr. Kohona also provided a detailed briefing on the processing
procedures for IDPS escaping from the LTTE, the raft of relief measures
being undertaken to make their lives easier in the relief villages the
access provide to NGOs and INGOs, the continuing engagement with UN
officials, the advanced planning for the early return of IDPs to their
own village sand towns, including demining and the ongoing work to
re-establish inclusive democracy in the North.
�The Mexican authorities saw the parallels between their own
experience in Chiapas and the negative impact of a cleverly manipulated
propaganda machine. They also expressed hope for deepening and
strengthening the bilateral relationship, including through the exchange
of thigh levels visits�. |
