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EU defers decision on LTTE
No Lankan envoy to press key issue
From Neville de Silva in London
Brussels-based officials of EU member states again put off a decision on Sri Lanka’s call for sanctions against the LTTE, following the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar.

Officials from the Working Group on Asia that met in Brussels last Wednesday could not agree on Sri Lanka’s call for action against the LTTE for violating international anti-terrorism and other laws that prohibit fund-raising for terrorist activities and recruitment of child soldiers.

After Britain, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the European Union Council, placed it on the agenda for Wednesday’s meeting of the Asian Group, Norway and some other Nordic states opposed to any sanctions, called for further deliberations.

The issue was then kicked upstairs to another group of officials who will be meeting next week in Brussels. This group consists of officials from the capitals of the member-states who meet regularly at the EU headquarters in Brussels to consider matters pertaining to Asia and the EU’s relations with that continent.

“Oh yes, the Norwegians were at it again. They seem to be working overtime to protect the LTTE from being shut out of Europe,” said a Brussels-based diplomat.

Although Britain has, more recently been somewhat amenable to pushing Sri Lanka’s call after its initial lukewarm response, Colombo’s case has gone by default in Brussels for lack of vigorous and articulate lobbying.

Sri Lanka has no ambassador right now in Brussels, the mission being run by a commercial counsellor from the Commerce Department. The former ambassador, Romesh Jayasinghe, has gone on a cross-posting to New Delhi, replacing Mangala Moonesinghe who has retired.

The Foreign Ministry has been unable to fill the Brussels vacancy yet. It is learnt that the new Foreign Minister Anura Bandaranaike has been to the Colombo Foreign Office just for one day since assuming the portfolio almost a month ago, but visited New Delhi, Beijing, London and is currently in New York.
Lacking a political officer in Brussels at this critical time has cost Sri Lanka much in the way of keeping EU officials and representatives of member-states apprised of developments concerning the LTTE, the Ceasefire Agreement and the stalled peace process.

Diplomats say that the EU — and other co-chairs of the Tokyo donor conference — should be informed of the LTTE calendar which features the picture Tiger leader Velupillai Prabhakaran surrounded by pictures of visiting foreign officials and diplomats with the legend that the LTTE will not kneel to any foreign demands or overtures.Informed sources in Brussels said they doubt whether even next Wednesday’s meeting would reach a conclusion. Two weeks ago when the issue first reached the agenda after it was placed there by Britain, the EU has been biding its time largely because of pressure from Oslo that seems determined to stymie it.

“Now is the time for your government to find out who is blocking a consensus on this issue. If they are the same chaps — and their friends — who did it before, then could they realistically appear as mediators or facilitators or whatever they are called? The question is what are the other co-chairs doing,” a EU diplomat said.

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