|
|
 |
 |
 |
| Monday, 21 April 2003 |
 |
|
 |
News | |
| News Business Features Editorial Security Politics World Letters Sports Obituaries
|
Dhaka,Sunday, (AFP) - President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga began a two-day official visit to Bangladesh Saturday, saying she was committed to the success of the ongoing peace process with the LTTE. "The present government has continued the (peace) process, initiated by me, with a view to finding a negotiated settlement to Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict," she said at a banquet hosted by Bangladeshi President Iajuddin Ahmed. She added: "I shall of course continue my personal commitment to the success of the peace process and attempt to guide the government in its present undertaking." President Kumaratunga thanked Bangladesh for its support in ending her country's ethnic conflict. "We know that this derives from the keen desire of Bangladesh to assist us in the re-establishment of peace and prosperity in Sri Lanka," she said. She said Colombo would like to "learn and draw inspiration" from Dhaka's experience in ending its bloody conflict in the southeastern Chittagong hill tracts region after signing a 1997 peace pact with tribal rebels fighting for autonomy. President Ahmed said Dhaka had an "unwavering commitment to the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka." "Bangladesh welcomes all positive initiatives aimed at strengthening peace and stability in Sri Lanka," he said. "It is my sincere hope that peace will no longer elude your great country." The Sri Lankan leader also called for an early convening of the postponed summit of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). "We have to collectively formulate methods and procedures to strengthen that SAARC process and take it forward within the context of intra-regional conflict," Kumaratunga said. A SAARC summit due in January in Islamabad was put off due to differences between the region's two big powers - India and Pakistan. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are members of SAARC, which also includes Nepal, Bhutan and the Maldives. Kumaratunga, the first leader of the island nation to visit Dhaka since 1995, was earlier greeted at the airport by Ahmed and Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and welcomed with a colourful ceremony that included a 21-gun salute. She placed wreaths at the National Martyrs' Memorial, dedicated to those killed in Bangladesh's 1971 Independence War against Pakistan. "My salutations and respectful homage to the heroes of the Bangladesh liberation war in 1971," she wrote in the guest book. Tight security was in place in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka for the visit. A foreign ministry spokesman said Dhaka viewed her visit as "important and significant" as the two South Asian countries, geographically close to nuclear power India, shared common views on many issues. Talks between Kumaratunga and Zia were held yesterday and were expected to cover bilateral and regional issues, the spokesman said. |
|
News | Business | Features
| Editorial | Security
Produced by Lake House |
