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No country can exert pressure on Sri Lanka:
West should keep HANDS OFF
Chaminda Perera
Sri Lanka and Russia have not fully exploited the enormous potential
of relations between the two nations though 55 years have passed since
the establishment of formal diplomatic ties. Sri Lanka can have more
closer cooperation in the field of energy and trade, said new Russian
ambassador in Sri Lanka Alexander A Karchava.
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Russian Ambassador Alexander A Karchava.
Picture by Sulochana Gamage |
In an exclusive interview with the Daily News, the Russian envoy said
developed countries should not exert pressure on Sri Lanka to enforce
what they presume to be right. He says that Sri Lankan is being
criticized by those who are not least perfect in that area themselves.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q: Sri Lanka and Russia has been
close friends for decades. How do you see the relations between Sri
Lanka and Russia?
A: This year marks the
completion of 55 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties
between Sri Lanka and Russia. For the past 55 years we have been close
friends. When I came here, I felt it was really so.
I met many Sri Lankans who expressed their gratitude for Russian
political support towards Sri Lanka.
These two countries have huge potential to promote bilateral
relations in many fields. We are not very much satisfied with the extent
of using this potential.
We are doing well in the field of education. Hundreds of Sri Lankan
students have been receiving education in many universities across
Russia. Many of them are studying medicine. The number of students
studying in Russia has increased by 40 percent during the year of 2011
and this figure would have further increased during the course of 2012.
The two countries have close cooperation in the field of military
technical training too. The two countries have huge potential to promote
bilateral ties in many fields. I hope that President Vladmir Putin will
visit Sri Lanka in the future. We hope for that.
The new Russian embassy complex consisting of chancery, living
quarters for all staffers and ambassador’s residence is being built at
Bauddhaloka Mawatha, Colombo 7 and the construction is to be completed
in three years.
Q: What are the area's that need more
focus for the promotion of ties between the two countries?
A: I think that the two
countries can work closely in the field of energy.
We have very good technology in the construction of nuclear power
plants. Russian technology in the construction of nuclear power plants
is very advanced. Many countries seek our assistance for the
construction of nuclear plants. Russia is constructing a nuclear power
plant in Vietnam too.
There is a possibility of increasing the number of Russian tourists
visiting Sri Lanka. Over 21,000 tourists visited Sri Lanka during the
course of 2011. This number could have been much bigger by 2012. There
is much possibility of increasing this number as Sri Lanka has many
interesting places to see. The country is blessed with exotic beaches,
natural beauty and tropical climate. Its excellent beaches and climate
enthrall many tourists around the world. Thailand is one of the
favourite tourist destinations of Russians. Over one million Russians
visit Thailand a year and we can attract these tourists to Sri Lanka.
Russia is the largest importer of Sri Lankan tea but our bilateral
trade volume is only US $ 500 million. It is not enough when considering
the sound relations between the two countries. Bilateral trade needs to
be promoted. Moscow is well fed with Sri Lankan tea and tea trade can be
expanded to other cities too. Sri Lanka can buy more machinery from us.
We can buy more fruits and tea from Sri Lanka as the Russian market is
huge.
Q: The government has launched a
massive development drive islandwide in the aftermath of a conflict that
ravaged the country for over three decades. How do you see the country's
development drive?
A: I did not have an
opportunity to visit the outstations except Galle. But from what I see
in Colombo, I came to a conclusion that the country has great potential.
There is a profusion of development activities. I see a lot of
constructions, renovations, refurbishments and infrastructure
development activities in Colombo. Russia is always ready to help Sri
Lanka as and when such assistance is sought by Sri Lanka.
 Q: You were appointed as Russian
envoy in Sri Lanka very recently. Is this your first overseas
assignment?
A: No, I started my career
in the diplomatic service as a press attaché of the Soviet Embassy in
Bangkok in the 1970s. I was there for five years. Actually, I was
supposed to come to Colombo in 1973 but my principal language at the
university was Thai. Therefore, I was assigned for eight years in
Thailand. When our Foreign Minister Surgey Lavrov was in Sri Lanka in
the 1970s, I was in Thailand.
Q: Russian Foreign Ministry
Commissioner for Human Rights, Democracy and Rule of Law ambassador
Konstantin Dolgov visited Sri Lanka a few months ago to see himself the
steps taken by the government to improve the Human Rights situation in
Sri Lanka. Have you identified priority areas that need immediate action
to improve HR situation in Sri Lanka?
A: Ambassador Dolgov
visited Sri Lanka before I assumed duties as the Russian ambassador in
Colombo. What he mentioned was that this country managed to make many
achievements in the aftermath of conflict.
He told me that Sri Lanka has made tremendous achievements in the
field of resettlement and demining. Sri Lanka managed to make the
biggest achievement in the field of resettlement and demining. The
Cambodian war ended in the mid of 1970s but the country is not
completely demined after 30 years. But Sri Lanka has made tremendous
achievements in the field of demining.
Q: The Imperialist Forces are using
Human Rights as a tool to keep developing countries under their control.
Your comments?
A: Personally, I do not
use the term ‘imperialist forces’. The more developed countries
specially in the West should not exert pressure on developing countries
to implement what they presume to be right to improve conditions in
developing countries.
Sri Lanka is being criticized by those who are not in the least
perfect in that area. Sometimes people point at a speck in the others'
eye without knowing the whole lot about their eyes. You can render
assistance and advice in a friendly manner. Exerting pressure on
developing countries for such a restoration is unacceptable.
Q: Do you think that Sri Lanka’s HR
record warrant any type of international probe?
A: I do not think so. I
met Plantation Industries Minister and Presidential Envoy on Human
Rights Mahinda Samarasinghe. He said that the government has presented a
report showing the progress made by the country in the field of Human
Rights.
Q: Don’t you think that another Cold War is looming with the Duma’s
approval for a Bill prohibiting the adoption of Russian children by
Americans?
A: I do not think so. Foreign adoption cannot be banned
completely. We have certain agreements with a number of countries,
including the United States, Italy, France. We have nothing against a
person from another country wanting to adopt a Russian child who is an
orphan. We are not against a foreigner wanting to adopt a Russian child
who lost his or her parents or a child who has no guardians or
relatives. But the foster parents should provide everything that this
child needs.
The Duma initiated this move as there were several cases in the United
States where Russian children were humiliated and faced a number of
problems.
The new parents should be responsible for providing all facilities for
the child. I do not think that it would be an all out Cold War.
We have good relations with the US and both countries are helping each
other. When the US was struggling for its independence, Russia sent
fleets of ships as support.
During World War II, Russia and America were in alliance to fight
against Nazi Germany.
My President quite recently, held a press conference which lasted for
more than four hours where he stressed that the relations with the US is
generally very good.
Q: The Russian President has met a number of Heads of State which
were part of the former Soviet Union seeking closer cooperation. Will
this cooperation lead to the formation of a Union?
A: Russian President Vladmir Putin has described this matter in
an excellent way during his first term in office. He said that those who
do not feel sorry for the demise of the Soviet Union, have no hearts and
those dreaming of the re-establishment of Soviet Union do not have
brains. It is impossible at all.
What we are striving is to have active cooperation and interaction with
all former Soviet states. Russia wants closer cooperation through
various groupings, such as, Customs Union and the Commonwealth of
Independent States (CIS).
We are not going to unite former Soviet states under one political roof.
It is not possible and it is not our aim.
We have had sound economic links from the past and this connection has
to be strengthened. You cannot cut the pipe lines. Rail links, highways
across states which are vital to the economy of all states.
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