Prof Peiris briefs Kuwait on SL's achievements, future plans:

Strong Kuwaiti support for reconciliation process

Minister of External Affairs Professor G L Peiris discussed in detail contemporary events in Sri Lanka at a bilateral meeting in Kuwait City this week with Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait. He also provided a detailed briefing for Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahamed Al-Sabah, Minister for Amir's (Ruler's)Affairs at a meeting in Bayan Palace in Kuwait City.

Both Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, whose Foreign Ministers Prof. Peiris met in Abu Dhabi on the previous day, are members of the Gulf Co-operation Council.

Prof. Peiris, commenting on the consistently strong ties between Sri Lanka and Kuwait throughout the 40 year period since the establishment of diplomatic relations, said that the quality and depth of the bilateral relationship is indicated by the magnitude of development assistance given to Sri Lanka by the Government of Kuwait through the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development (KFAED).

Sri Lanka has derived immense benefit from implementation of projects under this Fundprincipally, irrigation projects in the Southern Province, rehabilitation schemes, construction of bridges, development of Zone C of the Mahaweli Project, rural electrification initiatives and support for the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.

While the current value of projects under the Fund is approximately 150 million U.S. dollars, Prof. Peiris told the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kuwait that enhanced support for the development of infrastructure is now timely in view of the entirely settled conditions in all parts of the country.

Sheikh Dr. Mohammed Sabah Al-Salam Al-Sabah appreciated the contribution to the Kuwait economy by about 110,000 Sri Lankan nationals working in Kuwait. Prof. Peiris thanked the Kuwait Government for offering job opportunities for Sri Lankan nurses for the first time.

He appreciated, in particular, the decision by the government of Kuwait to grant a general amnesty to Sri Lankan migrant workers who had been in Kuwait without approval.

Minister Peiris expressed Sri Lanka's vigorous support for the proposals made by the Emir (Ruler) of Kuwait at the inauguration of the Tenth Ministerial Meeting of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue on Monday, for the convening of an Asian Summit next year for the purpose of buttressing Asian identity and an Asian outlook on global issues.

Minister Peiris made emphatic reference to Sri Lanka's identification with national and cultural interests of Arab nations, and our support for their fullest inclusion in international fora.

He recalled a comment by Judge Owada, President of the International Court of Justice, in his address delivered at the inauguration of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee in Colombo earlier this year. Judge Owada had celebrated the growing inclusivity and universality evident in the composition of the World Court, and welcomed especially the increasing number of judges from geographical regions outside the West. Judge Owada went on to add that this was probably one of the reasons why countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America are now making increasing use of the jurisdiction of the International Court of Justice in resolving their disputes, Prof. Peiris remarked.

Each country must be encouraged to resolve its issues in keeping with the aspirations of its people, and the overriding considerations are those of time, place and circumstance, he said. He added that sustainability of solutions depends on sensitivity to local nuances.

Prof. Peiris described in detail to the Foreign Minister of Kuwait the complexity of the challenges which his country was confronted with after the termination of hostilities only two and a half years ago.

He indicated the progress which had been made in every sector within this brief time span. Sri Lanka, he said, is entitled to the space and time to continue on this path. In particular, his country should be afforded the opportunity of considering in earnest the recommendations to be made by the Lessons Learnt and Reconciliation Commission, the local mechanism established by the President of Sri Lanka and due to submit its report next month. Any attempt to pre-judge its conclusions or to invoke international action is wrong in principle and gravely detrimental to the sensitive reconciliation process in Sri Lanka, Minister Peiris said.

The Foreign Minister of Kuwait conveyed to the Minister of External Affairs his assurance of goodwill for the strengthening of peace and stability and for reconciliation in Sri Lanka, and Kuwait's strong support for a domestic process in Sri Lanka.

During his 24 hour visit to Kuwait Prof. Peiris addressed the meeting of the Asia Co-operation Dialogue which currently consists of 32 countries from East to West Asia and is the first forum ever that aims eventually to encompass all countries in Asia. This meeting was inaugurated by His Highness Sheikh Sabah Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, Amir of Kuwait.