Vietnam assures more support

Always stood for peace and harmony:

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Pham Gia Khiem, said Sri Lanka's achievement in bringing an end to terrorism was commendable.

It was time that the country took forward the reconciliation process with confidence and resolve, he said when Foreign Minister Bogollagama met him at Sharm El Sheikh yesterday.

He made this remarks on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Ministerial Meeting, which preceded the 15th NAM Summit of Heads of State or Governments on July 15 and 16.

Assuring strong support for Sri Lanka in its intensified efforts towards reconstruction and development, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that this commitment of Vietnam was rooted in its foreign policy, which accorded priority to further expanding the existing relations between the two countries.

He made this comment as Foreign Minister Bogollagama briefed him on recent developments in the country, including the defeat of LTTE by Sri Lankan security forces, and the ongoing political process aimed at empowering the people.

Minister Bogollagama thanked Vietnam for its support and solidarity extended to Sri Lanka in the multilateral fora as Sri Lanka intensified its campaign against terrorism in recent months.

"Now that the LTTE had been defeated in Sri Lanka and it was possible that individuals and groups associated with the LTTE may seek to operate from countries in the region, posing a threat to regional security and stability" added Bogollagama.

In response, the Deputy Prime Minister said that Vietnam would never allow its territory for use by any terrorist element since his country always stood for peace and harmony.