Lanka thanks Brazil for its stance

External Affairs Minister Prof Peiris expressed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for Brazil’s for its firm stance taken towards Sri Lanka’s territorial integrity. He also thanked Brazil for UNHCR relief operating in Sri Lanka.

Minister Prof G L Peiris met with UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Baroness Amos on the sidelines of the 65th UNGA.

This was when the External Affairs Minister continued with his discussions in New York on the margins of the UN General Assembly and met with his Brazilian counterpart, Foreign Minister Celso Amorim on September 28.

Brazil being a member of the G15 which is currently chaired by Sri Lanka, the discussions also dealt with the specific measures now under way to strengthen the Group and to augment the effectiveness of its advocacy, on behalf of the developing world

Minister Peiris had discussions also with Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman. The conversation focused among other matters on developments in Middle East. Minister Peiris elaborated in this context on Sri Lanka’s principled position regarding the issue of Palestine.

The final bilateral meeting of Minister Peiris was with the UN Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Baroness Amos.

The External Affairs Minister set out the sound progress made by Sri Lanka in the resettlement of the internally displaced, along with the generation of avenues of employment, with the Government urging the private sector to open industrial plants in the formerly conflict affected areas.

The Minister also briefed the UN Under Secretary General on the economic renaissance now under way in the North and the East, as well as the Government’s plans revive the electoral process in the North. He emphasized in particular that accessibility is not an issue, with 78 local and international NGOs operating in the area, along with 11 UN agencies.