GL meets French counterpart:

Focus on post- conflict developments

France is happy to have been able to contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic development through projects, especially in the sectors of water, construction and hospital equipment, and looks forward to working with Sri Lanka as the country continues its progress with the economy and reconciliation, Minister of Foreign and European Affairs of the Republic of France, Alain Juppe, told Minister of External Affairs, Professor G.L. Peiris at their meeting in Paris on Thursday.

Prof. Peiris, who was ceremonially received at the Quai d’ Orsay, briefed his French counterpart comprehensively on current developments in Sri Lanka. The French Foreign Minister, who showed interest in Sri Lanka’s plans for the near future, received detailed information about progress already achieved with regard to resettlement of internally displaced persons and re-integration of ex-combatants into the community.

Minister Peiris referred to the specific particulars which he had recently made available to the diplomatic community in Colombo with regard to sums of money lent by the State banking system in the North, the lands devastated by the terrorists and now under cultivation, and details relating to the construction of highways and railroad systems.

Minister Peiris also briefed Minister Juppe about the Parliamentary Select Committee which will be appointed shortly to consider suitable constitutional reforms and about the practical consequences of the withdrawal of Emergency Regulations. The two Ministers discussed appropriate avenues for enhanced French participation in economic development in Sri Lanka in the new situation.

During his two-day visit to France Prof. Peiris addressed the prestigious French think tank, Academie Diplomatique Internationale, in Paris.

At a meeting with Madam Irina Bokova, Director-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, Minister Peiris discussed current developments in Sri Lanka in the educational sector and suitable contributions by UNESCO at this time. He met with Ambassador Jean-David Levitte, Senior Diplomatic Adviser to President Nicholas Savkozy of France for a discussion about Sri Lanka’s approach to the issues now being addressed and the recently concluded session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and the Human Rights Council in Geneva.

At a separate meeting with Ange Mancini, National Co-ordinator of Intelligence Services at the Presidency of the French Republic, Prof. Peiris provided a briefing on security related issues and Sri Lanka’s contribution to the control of illicit immigration - initiatives which had been internationally acknowledged.

The meetings with the Foreign Minister of France and the diplomatic and security advisers of the French President were attended also by Dr. Dayan Jayatilleke, Sri Lanka’s Ambassador in France and Madam Christine Robichon, French Ambassador in Sri Lanka. Prof. Peiris interacted with several members of the diplomatic community in Paris.

These included the Ambassadors accredited to France by India, the People’s Republic of China, Russia, Germany, Singapore, Cambodia, Portugal, Ecuador, Vietnam, Guatemala, Cuba and Colombia. In addition, he met with Ambassadors accredited to UNESCO by Japan, El Salvador, Senegal, Venezuela, Hungary, Pakistan, Zimbabwe, Kuwait, Angola, Bahrain, Brazil and the Vatican. He met with French legislators from the Senate as well as the Chamber of Deputies.

Minister Peiris was also interviewed by Le Monde.