Visit of the President and External Affairs Minister for the 66th session of the UN General Assembly: September 19-25, 2011, New York
The President and the delegation attended the general debate of the 66th session of the UNGA, from September 19 to 25 in New York. This General Assembly was the first session for the UN Secretary-General, since his re-election to the high post for a second term. The Assembly was presided over by the Permanent Representative in New York of the State of Qatar.
The General Debate of the Session commenced on the morning of September 21 having the overarching theme of ‘The role of mediation in the settlement of disputes by peaceful means.’ The President addressed the General Assembly on the morning of September 23, 2011.
Bilateral discussions
It provided an opportunity to apprise the world community of the development that had taken place within a short span of two-and half years, since the end of the conflict, in resettlement, reconstruction and rehabilitation activities. Also, the efforts by the government to ensure livelihood support for the people, reinvigoration of the democratic process through the holding of elections in the North and East and the local reconciliation mechanism as well as the political measures to redress issues of concern to all citizens. The key messages conveyed therein were relevant to all member states and were well received; especially those being threatened by terrorism. Further, there was a call on the developing world to collectively insist on the procedures of multilateral organizations being consistent and devoid of discrimination.
The President also took this opportunity to reiterate the need to have decisive action on the issue of Palestine. He also expressed solidarity of Sri Lanka towards the Cuban people and underlined the need for sustained support for countries of the African Continent.
The presence of many world leaders provided the benefit of holding bilateral discussions on the fringes of the main event. These discussions had added relevance, having learnt that moves were afoot by Canada to have a procedural decision/resolution on Sri Lanka at the current 18th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva, to formalize an agenda item on holding an interactive dialogue on Sri Lanka, especially on the LLRC report, at the 19th Session of the HRC Session scheduled for March 2012. Our focus was to brief on this unprecedented and procedurally flawed move, HRC member countries and those non-members with influence.
Both the President and I met with the following member countries of the Human Rights Council; President of Nigeria, the Emir of the State of Qatar, Vice President of Uganda, President of Kyrgyz Republic (Bureau member of the HRC) and the President of Senegal. I continued this effort by having bilateral meetings with my counterparts of Indonesia, Uruguay (President of the HRC), Cameroon and Angola.
UN Security Council
I also addressed individual letters while in New York to the 46 Foreign Ministers who are members of the HRC, explaining our position regarding this proposed initiative. Many of the friends acknowledged the danger in allowing action on a domestic process which is yet to see the light of the day, as it sets negative and unsound precedent in the conduct of business within the UN system. The response we received was encouraging as they agreed that such selective and subjective action could affect not only Sri Lanka but any country in the future.
The meetings with the President of Palestine and the President of Iran were an opportunity to reiterate the personal rapport between the leaders and the President as well as to exchange views of bilateral importance. The meeting with the President of Colombia was important in furthering our bilateral relations as well as to apprise on the current post conflict development in Sri Lanka being a current member of the UN Security Council and as a conduit to the Group of Latin American countries. The President also met the President of Slovania, at their request. All these interactions also helped to pursue furthering stronger bilateral political and economic relations.
My meeting with the Canadian Foreign Minister later revealed that it was decided to ‘postpone’ their initiative in the Human Rights Council, until the LLRC Report is released. Our extensive bilateral discussions with the large number of countries clearly had an impact on this decision. It is recognized that this is only a stop gap situation, as that part of the international community seems to want to relentlessly pursue action on Sri Lanka. To this end, we will need to consistently engage and lobby the international community.
The President had a useful and candid engagement with the UNSG and reaffirmed the willingness of the GOSL to work with the UN system. The UNSG’s attention was drawn to the discussions held in September 2010 and regret was expressed at the non-consultation of Sri Lanka prior to the Darusman Report being sent to the President of the Human Rights Council and the High Commissioner for Human Rights (HCHR). The SG was at pains to explain that he forwarded the documents to the aforementioned without prescribing any action and apologized for the lapse.
Darusman Panel Report
Prior to the President’s meeting with the UN Secretary-General, I held discussions with Lynn Pascoe, Under Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Vijay Nambiar, Chef de Cabinet of UNSG. The deep disappointment of the government of Sri Lanka, regarding the manner in which the Darusman Panel Report was sent to the HCHR and President of the Human Rights Council, was underscored at both these meetings. It was pointed out that Sri Lanka, as the concerned party was not kept informed of such action and it came to light through a third party in Geneva, who had been informed by the HCRC. Pascoe acknowledged that there was a lapse on the part of the UN by failing to keep Sri Lanka informed at the outset and apologized in this regard.
He noted the steps taken in Sri Lanka to bring normalcy and said that on the part of the UN Secretary-General they believe that the issues of accountability and reconciliation have to be handled by Sri Lanka itself. I categorically explained to both Pascoe and Nambiar that it is not the intention of the GOSL to gloss over the recommendations and findings of the LLRC, but would seek the course of action that can be taken for their implementation in the interest of the people. Hence it was explained that undue external pressure would not help but hinder the delicate process of reconciliation.
The Secretary-General of the Commonwealth Kamalesh Sharma called on the President and had a detailed discussion on the forthcoming CHOGM, the ongoing activities including the work of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) and the Report of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on the revitalization of the Association. He briefed on the process to be undertaken by the GOSL in the run up to our hosting CHOGM 2013, which would need to commence immediately after the Perth meeting in October this year. He stated that there would be no re-opening of the venue issue, as Sri Lanka has been endorsed by the Heads of the Commonwealth. Sharma advised that Sri Lanka should have an inclination of the end achievement, which to an extent would depend on the outcome of CHOGM 2011. This meeting provided an impetus to our preparation process for 2013.
Developing countries
In the meantime, I attended the Annual Commonwealth Foreign Ministers Meeting (CFAMM). The Australian Foreign Minister briefed the meeting on the preparations for the CHOGM in October. Most of the developing countries that spoke including Sri Lanka, questioned the value addition of a Commonwealth Charter prepared by compiling all existing rules and declarations. Also, they were vigorously opposed to the proposed recommendations of the EPG, in particular regarding the establishment of a Commonwealth Commissioner on Democracy and the Rule of Law; also, they expressed reservation on the reallocation of current budgets to meet the cost of new proposals. Concerns were expressed on the revitalisation of the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG) as contained in its report. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the UK were among the few who spoke in favour of these recommendations of the EPG. This demonstrated that it was a few players of the Association which were pursuing the inclusion of a punitive role, which would cause a split in the organization.
I also met with Alistair Burt, the British MP of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of the Government of the UK. On the Commonwealth front, he indicated that there is no ‘desire’ on the part of the UK to reopen the issue of Sri Lanka’s offer to be the host for CHOGM-2013.
On bilateral matters, he recognized that the diaspora is taking some of the issues regarding accountability and reconciliation more strongly than those within Sri Lanka and observed that such pressure be mitigated by working on the requirements of the latter. Recognition of this aspect is a positive development towards evolving our own political process, he said.
International community
Keeping the tradition of furthering the regional bilateral ties, we had very useful meetings with some of our regional neighbours. An approximately 30-minute one to one meeting between the President and the Prime Minister of India, prefaced the engagement with the rest of the delegation, which was cordial and encouraging. While it was observed that the treatment of Indian fishermen poaching in Sri Lankan waters had improved, the scheduling of the next Joint Working Committee on fisheries meeting in Sri Lanka was referred to. Further the need for developments in the political process was outlined, in the context that it could reduce the pressure from parts of the international community.
India reiterated that work on the 50,000 houses pledged to be built in the North will begin soon. At their request, the President met the new Prime Minister of Nepal and the Vice President of the Maldives.
At their request, I met with the Foreign Ministers of Finland and Kazakhstan. The meeting with Erik Solheime, Norwegian Minister for Environment and International Cooperation at his request, helped reassess his orientation towards Sri Lanka and seek possible areas of engagement with that country.
Solheime stated that it will be difficult for Norway to ignore the views of the rest of the international community on Sri Lanka and in order to dilute such pressure, it would be important to engage in the political dialogue with the TNA.
I responded that the GOSL will engage not only with the TNA but with all elected political parties to find an amicable political settlement.
Development activities
As part of the outreach activities and creating awareness, the President had a very productive interactive discussion with the Wall Street Journal, a leading New York based newspaper on political, economic financial and investment matters. Also, he had an interview with the Economist Magazine and a telephone discussion with Prakash Hinduja, Chef d'entreprise of Hinduja Group of Companies. As a continuation of this strategy, I too had a useful interaction with Mathew Pennington of the Associated Press.
Besides bilateral meetings, Sri Lanka was represented at the highest level at the Opening Plenary of the Annual Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) meeting.
In Sri Lanka's capacity as the Chair of the Group of 15-the Summit level Group of developing countries on economic and developmental issues - I chaired the 34th Ministerial Meeting of the G-15.
The Members commended the manner in which Sri Lanka has steered the Group, which has embarked upon reviewing the Group's activities with a view to revitalising it and become more visible and proactive. Due to the conflict of schedules, the Member of Parliament, Monitoring the External Affairs Ministry represented me at the Informal SAARC Ministerial meeting hosted by the Maldives as the incoming SAARC Chair, to brief on the preparations for the Summit on substantive and logistical areas.
The Ministerial breakfast meeting hosted by Kuwait for the Ministers of Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) was also attended, where the progress in activities of the organization was provided and preparations for the forthcoming formal Ministerial meeting in Kuwait.
Humanitarian situation
The breakfast meeting with the two representatives of the Congress, Ms. Caroline B. Maloney (D-NY-14) and Robert Aderholt (R-AL-7), enabled the President to share views on the post-conflict development activities in Sri Lanka and also to impress upon the US Congress representatives on Sri Lanka's position regarding issues related to the humanitarian situation, reconciliation and the political process etc.
Several social events organized on the sidelines provided further opportunity to engage with key personalities and HOS/HOG and in this regard the receptions hosted by President Barak Obama, UNSG, Prime Minister of Japan, President of Senegal, and the President of Turkey, paved the way to engage in an exchange of views and social networking.
The visit in overall, given the brief duration, helped firming up Sri Lanka's case and garner crucial support from the like-minded countries and also to bring home our point of view to those who have concerns on some of the developments in Sri Lanka. These interactions have also paved the way for furthering bilateral relations in a very productive manner.
Concluded
Source: Daily News: October 01 and 03, 2011
