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Rocca lauds Lankan peace process: : US urges LTTE to go to Tokyo

US Assistant Secretary of State Christina Rocca, speaking in Colombo yesterday, called for political consensus in Colombo while stressing that the LTTE should participate in the Tokyo donor parley.

Rocca said that the Sri Lankan peace process has "moved from strength to strength" and that "for this record of dedication ... the people of Sri Lanka and their negotiators have my government's admiration and congratulations."

Addressing a media conference, Rocca urged the LTTE to participate in the Tokyo talks "in the best interest of the peace process, the Tamil people, and the Tigers themselves."

She said that in each of her visits in Colombo she "shared the international community's fervent hope that a clear, consistent, and united Sri Lankan voice is heard at Tokyo".

"We are encouraging both sides to pull together, because a united voice is crucial in these peace talks ... is critical for it to move forward successfully. The cohabitation problems are really an internal matter and we are not getting involved in them other than to say that we really hope that they will not impede the peace process and that they will be able to move forward together."

She also said that the negotiations had suffered setbacks, and noted two current challenges that "are particularly worrying': one, the possibility that the LTTE may ignore the donor conference in Tokyo; two, the possibility that cohabitation quarrels will eclipse peace talk deliberations."

Rocca was in Sri Lanka as part of a South Asian trip that took her to Colombo, Islamabad, Kabul, and New Delhi.

The Assistant Secretary said that she looked forward to a day when "peace replaces war" and the dynamic relationship between us can once again focus on "trade and other commercial activities; academic, cultural, and professional exchanges; and bilateral cooperation toward the resolution of South Asia's other issues".

"All of this becomes increasingly possible as your peace process goes forward." Asked whether Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage would miss that Tokyo conference of the LTTE declines to attend it, Rocca said

"that would still be speculation at this point".

"I just want to reiterate that we really hope that they will, that it's in the best interests of not only the LTTE, but the Tamil people and peace process itself," Rocca added. She explained that there will be certain benchmarks or certain steps that the US would like to see accomplished as reconstruction goes ahead.

"I think adherence to basic democracy and human rights will probably be one of them. But I will leave the details of this to the conference in Tokyo."

Question: Considering the state of the peace process at the moment and especially ... an absence of military conflict: no suicide bomb attacks and no bomb explosions. All the other acts of terrorism continue: abductions, recruitment of child soldiers, all those things continue. In this situation, would the State Department ... think in terms of the need for regime change in the Vanni.

Assistant Secretary: Let me just say that we are aware of these breaches in the ceasefire on the part of the LTTE, and that the LTTE remains on our list of Foreign Terrorist Organizations. In order for that situation to change, we call upon them to renounce violence, renounce all these activities, reject separatism, and honour democracy and human rights.

Rocca said the seminar in Washington showed the world's support for the peace process. "We were very pleased with its outcome, and we think it was a good first step toward Tokyo."

Question: Could we envisage the possibility of Sri Lankans being associated at some level in the processes of post-war reconstruction of Iraq?

Assistant Secretary: I don't see any reason why not. There is a big process out there and we certainly encourage nations like Sri Lanka to participate.

The Assistant Secretary hoped that Anton Balasingham would recover quickly. "We hope that they will be able to move forward either way. I understand that there are meetings taking place with the Norwegians, and we hope that the LTTE as such is committed to the process, and that it's not dependent on just one person."

Meanwhile in Washington, State Department Deputy Spokesman Philip T. Reeker said Assistant Secretary Rocca's visit to Sri Lanka signifies US support for the Sri Lankan peace process. "We have always urged the political parties and senior officials in Sri Lanka to work for the cause of peace together. That is certainly a message that Assistant Secretary Rocca will continue to underscore while she is there."

"As you know, the United States has a continuing interest in strong relationships with each of the countries in the region and in promoting peace and stability. And as we have said many times before, and Deputy Secretary Armitage underscored during his visit, peace in the region, whether it's in Afghanistan or whether it's between India and Pakistan or whether in Nepal or in Sri Lanka, will be achieved through the efforts of the governments and peoples of South Asia, and the United States stands ready to assist South Asians in their efforts, as they may request."

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