External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris had held discussions with a large number of countries including India, China, Russia and Germany about developments in Sri Lanka as well as progress made with regards to the economy and the reconciliation process.
The External Affairs Ministry said in a statement that the minister, who was in France for two-day official visit, 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 several 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 on his visit to France.
During their meeting, French Minister of Foreign and European Affairs, Alain Juppe, had told the Lankan Minister that France was happy to have been able to contribute to Sri Lanka’s economic development especially in the water, construction and hospital sectors and looked forward to working with Sri Lanka as the country continued its progress with rebuilding the economy and its reconciliation process.
The French Foreign was told of the steady progress being made with regard to resettlement of internally displaced persons and the re-integration of excombatants into the community.
G.L. PEIRIS
The French Foreign Minister was told of the steady progress being made with regard to resettlement of internally displaced persons and the re-integration of ex-combatants into the community. 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 also discussed appropriate avenues for enhanced French participation in economic development in Sri Lanka in the future.
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 UNESCO at this time.
He met Ambassador Jean-David Levitte, Senior Diplomatic Adviser to French President Nicholas Sarkozy, 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 Mr. 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.
Source: Daily Mirror, October 18, 2011
