Mangala stresses importance of addressing democracy with LTTE

PARIS: Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera yesterday stressed the importance of addressing issues such as democracy, pluralism and human rights during future talks with the LTTE, when he met the French Foreign Minister Phillipe Douste-Blazy in Paris.

Douste-Blazy reiterated the support of France for the Sri Lankan Government's efforts to arrive at a negotiated settlement to the conflict.

He also acknowledged President Mahinda Rajapakse's efforts in this regard and the restraint shown by the Government in the face of provocations.

Samaraweera reiterated the Government's commitment to continue the dialogue and emphasised the importance of the support of the international community for this process.

Samaraweera acknowledged the role played by France as Chairman of the UN Security Council Working Group on Children and Armed Conflict.

The two Ministers were concerned that children of a very young age are conscripted and the trauma they go through as child soldiers leave a permanent scar in their lives.

The Minister referred to the Sri Lankan situation where children have been recruited as combatants for many years and expressed the hope that the Working Group under the chairmanship of France would recommend adequate sanctions against the perpetrators.

The two Ministers also discussed the issue of illegal fund-raising and extortion of Sri Lankan expatriates and agreed on the need for cooperative endeavours in this regard.

The French Minister explained the measures introduced to combat illegal fund-raising and those expected to be implemented as additional means.

Douste-Blazy recalled his visit to Sri Lanka as the Minister for Health soon after the tsunami disaster. The two Ministers referred to the twinning to Matara and Toulouse, which are the constituents of the two respective Ministers and the ongoing cooperative programmes.

Minister Samaraweera responding to the French Minister's query on the rehabilitation and reconstruction work outlined the programme under way and expressed his thanks to France for the generous relief provided, particularly in respect of the Trincomalee district.

Ambassador of France in Colombo Jean Bernard Devaivre and senior French Foreign Ministry officials as well as Sri Lankan Ambassador to France Chitranganee Wagiswara and the Senior Advisor to the President Dr Jayantha Dhanapala were present.