Disarming of terrorist groups duty of international community - Prof. Peiris

RUSSIA: Recent experiences in the region, including the bombing of a train from Moscow to St. Petersburg during the last few days, and the events which led to a series of arrests in Germany and in the United Kingdom in recent weeks indicate clearly that there is a community of interest on the part of the international community in responding to terrorism, and solidarity in this regard must find expression in concerted and effective action, Minister of Export Development and International Trade Professor G.L. Peiris told A.P. Losyukov, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation, at their meeting in Moscow.

"It is a matter for satisfaction, he said, that the terrorist act on Russian soil resulted in no physical injury, although serious harm was obviously intended," he said.

Minister Peiris noted that the Russian Federation, a few days ago, had reached agreement on the text of a joint statement on terrorism, and methods of dealing with it, when the Foreign Minister of Bangladesh visited Moscow.

Prof. Peiris regarded this as a salutary development, in that it clearly showed that the Russian Federation looked upon terrorism as a global challenge, cutting across national frontiers and cultural identities, and requiring firm and decisive action.

The most significant aspect of the unfolding international scene in respect of terrorism, Minister Peiris commented, is the need to acknowledge a mandatory duty in the international community to work with dedication towards disarming terrorist groups.

As long as they possess the potential to destroy lives and to inflict grave damage by violence, the democratic way of life and democratic institutions are necessarily threatened, he observed.

Prof. Peiris made reference to the persistent attempts in some quarters to use segments of the international community to weaken democratic Governments grappling with terrorism by the elaborate spreading of misinformation.

It has been a matter of empirical experience that much of this propaganda relies on emotive rhetoric, deliberate misconstruction of events, gross exaggeration and repetition of untruths.

Commenting on Sri Lanka's conception of the role of the international community, the Minister said that, while it is the right and duty of the international community to engage constructively, by raising issues in an objective and dispassionate way with Governments threatened by terrorism, a spirit of confrontation and adversarial postures can only have the effect of unwittingly strengthening the hand of terrorism.

Minister Peiris thanked the Government of the Russian Federation for its understanding and consistent support of, and goodwill extended to, Sri Lanka in international fora.

The Ministers agreed to proceed to the formulation of a bilateral programme of collaboration, with specific priority areas, and time-frames. Officials on the two sides were instructed to have this programme ready before the Summer of 2008.

In Kiev, Professor Peiris was received by Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk.

The Minister had a wide ranging discussion on political and economic matters which included tariffs on value added tea exported from Sri Lanka, the relaxation of visa requirements and the participation by Ukrainian companies in infrastructure development in Sri Lanka.

Ukrainian assistance for the expansion of the fisheries sector in Sri Lanka was discussed in detail. Neomal Perera, Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Daya Wettasinghe, the Honorary Consul of the Ukraine in Sri Lanka, were present at the meeting.

The entire delegation of business leaders joined Minister Peiris and Deputy Minister Perera for the meeting with, Minster of Economy of the Ukraine Anatoilly Krylovych.

The Ministers decided to set up a Joint Commission to strengthen co-operation with regard to trade and the economy in a variety of sectors. The business community from Sri Lanka also had an extensive interaction with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Ukraine.

Sri Lanka's Ambassador to the Russian Federation and the Ukraine, Udayanga Weeraratne, attended the meetings.