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Britain Ready to Help Sri Lanka With Peace Process, Visiting Minister Says
Visiting British Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs Peter Hain has said that Britain was ready to help Sri Lanka in any way it could and was fully supportive of the Norwegian peace facilitation efforts in its dialogue with the government and separate Tamil Tiger rebels.
At a public address at the British Council in Colombo November 22 on "Peace through change: the British devolution experience", he said he was convinced that the government's insistence on territorial sovereignty and the rebels' objective of autonomy could be achieved. But for that to happen the shooting must stop and the talking must begin.
He said that the war was one which neither side could win militarily. The elected leaders must be prepared to sit down with people who may be responsible for barbarous assassinations, but who have a legitimate political program which needs to be engaged.
He noted that it took Britain a long time to realize this and far too many lives were lost as a result. The Sri Lankan Tamil Tiger rebels need to acknowledge that.
While a separate Tamil Kingdom, constitutionally split from the rest of the island, it will not be internationally recognized, the principle of self determination and control over most of the key policies affecting daily life would be supported by the international community, he noted.
He said that there was no future for Sri Lanka paralyzed by dogma, intransigence and cruelty. Compromises, difficult decisions and tough choices, some painful, will be needed. This was a time for boldness, vision and strong leadership, he added.
If the British experience is useful, the minister said, they would be happy to share it. Sri Lanka has suffered enough from a long and destructive conflict which had drained the islands material, emotional and moral resources for the past 18 years, he added.
He pointed out that no two conflicts are the same and Sri Lanka must find its own solution to the problem. He said, however, that he must emphasize strongly the need for patience and a properly thought out process, which gives all sections of the community an opportunity to contribute to the search for peace.
Hain arrived here Wednesday for a two-day visit following his four-day visit to neighboring India.
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