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EU to co-chair Tokyo donor conference

The European Union yesterday formally agreed to become the fourth co-chair at the upcoming Tokyo donor conference. The decision brings in fifteen more nations within the EU determined to support aid for Sri Lanka at a crucial time in the peace process.

The decision of the EU was conveyed to the Sri Lankan government yesterday after being ratified by Dr. Javier Solana, High Representative for Forign Affairs and Chris Patten Commissioner for External Affairs.

The Tokyo donor conference will now be co-chaired by the United Sates, Japan, Norway and the European Union. Already the International Community has pledged nearly 76 billion rupees of development aid to Sri Lanka based on the progress made in the peace process. The significance of the EU's decision is measured by the fact that it came despite the war currently fought in Iraq.

This decision showed that the International Community is still very much focused on bringing peace to Sri Lanka and to help revive the economy even whilst the war is being fought in the Middle East, according to a Government spokesman.

It also dispelled fears that the Iraq war would distract the attention of the International community from Sri Lanka and support diverted elsewhere,.

The latest development shows the commitment the Europeans are willing to give and the continued commitment from the United States typified by recent statements by Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage and Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca which showed that Sri Lanka represented a ray of hope in an otherwise dismal international scene.

In the lead up to the Conference on June 9 and 10 there will be two advance consultative meetings. The first will be on April 14, in Washington Chaired by Richard Armitage where Minister Milinda Moragoda will make a presentation explaining the needs of the Sri Lankan people.

A second meeting will be held in Colombo on May 6, where many of the final preparations for the Tokyo meeting will be confirmed. As a result of yesterday's decision Minister Moragoda is due to visit Brussels for meetings with High Representative Solana, Commissioner Patten and also representatives of the member states to discuss three key issues.

These issues include as assessment of the peace process to date.

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