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| Thursday, 23 October 2003 |
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| PA welcomes Indian statement by Uditha Kumarasinghe The People's Alliance yesterday welcomed the statement made by the Indian Government that it would wish to see a linkage between the interim administration arrangements and the ultimate solution to the ethnic issue in Sri Lanka. "We are thankful to India for supporting our stand and reiterating this position. We would call upon the Government to heed the message of President Chandrika Kumaratunga as well as the Government of India to adopt this approach to the ongoing peace talks and fall in line with domestic and international opinion," PA Media Spokesman Dr.Sarath Amunugama told a media briefing at SLFP Headquarters yesterday. PA also welcomed the Prime Minister's meeting with Indian Opposition Leader Sonia Gandhi on Tuesday. "We are very happy that the Prime Minister has been able to discuss key matters with the Indian Opposition Leader. The Indian statement is a very clear indication of the type of approach also taken by the PA," he said. Amunugama said PA is pleased about the position of India on the ethnic issue and a possible solution. It is the SLFP and the PA that has consistently placed before this country and the international opinion the need for a linkage between the interim arrangements and ultimate solution to the ethnic problem in this country, he said. "This was the position adopted by the PA and up to now the UNP has not in any way committed itself to this solution. The most we have is a statement by the Prime Minister that one of the possibilities is to link the ongoing peace talks regarding the interim arrangements with the final settlement," he said. He said:" We are very much for regional cooperation. We are the party which has always in favour of non-alignment, regional cooperation and friendship with all countries. These three principles will be followed by us." "We look upon the statement of the Indian Government as an indication of the stand taken by the SLFP and the PA from very inception. We are thankful to the Government of India for issuing such a positive statement, but what is not very clear is whether the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka also endorses the view of the Government of India." "Therefore we would like to find out from the Prime Minister whether he endorses this view. Actually he has a very good opportunity today (October 23) because the PA is having an adjournment motion on the speech made by Prime Minister at the UN General Assembly. This may be a good opportunity to the Prime Minister to clarify his position," Amunugama said. |
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