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Sri Lanka s Ambassador to Israel Donald clarifies after uproar
Friday, 23 July 2010 - 10:17 AM SL Time
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Sri Lanka s Ambassador to Israel Donald Perera says the comments attributed to him in an Israeli newspaper where it was reported that he had said Sri Lanka is a staunch supporter of Israel`s fight against Palestinian terror, is totally erroneous.
In a letter sent to the Israeli newspaper the Sri Lankan envoy said Sri Lanka always values her friendship with Israel and this aspect will continue to underpin the bilateral relationship between the two countries.
However he noted that at the same time the policy of the Government of Sri Lanka, which it has followed in consistent consonance with the position of the Non-Aligned Movement, is that the question of Palestine and the pursuit of lasting peace in the Middle East must be resolved through a two state solution whereby Israel and Palestine will co-exist with each other, within secure and intentionally recognized borders.
Therefore, the contrary view attributed to me in the news item that Sri Lanka is a staunch supporter of Israel`s fight against Palestinian terror is a totally erroneous rendering of my comments, he said.
The comments attributed to the Ambassador in the Israeli newspaper created an uproar in Sri Lanka with the Co-President of the Palestine Sri Lanka Friendship Society and Government Minister Ataudha Seneviratne telling Daily Mirror online that no matter what Ambassador Perera had to say, the Sri Lankan government s stand was to sympathize with the Palestinians and push both sides (Israel and Palestine) for negotiations.
Meanwhile Co-President and Opposition member Imtiyaz Bakeer Markar had said the government should make its stand clear on whether the comment made by Ambassador Perera echoed the sentiments of the Sri Lankan government.
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wick
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 23 Jul 2010 13:39:00 GMT Report for Abuse
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| Yes we recognize and respect all the nationalities, but not bloody Tamils. |
p007
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 23 Jul 2010 18:13:22 GMT Report for Abuse
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Did the Ambassador, an ex-military man, shoot his mouth off a la his former boss Sarath Fonseka or was he given the green light to say what he said just as a tit for tat for the Arab and Muslim countries which blocked a strong stand by NAM on the UN Panel issue?
Either way, it is downright stupid. If it is the former it is another gaffe by the Foreign Ministry to have appointed a Military man with little idea of the finer points of diplomacy to a sensitive Capital - an easy prey for the cunning Israelis to manipulate.
If it is the latter, it is UNLIKELY that the Arab and Muslim world, Iran in particular, will let it pass without a response. Iran, let it not be forgotten, came up with more than USD 1.5b in Aid just last year and is reported to be supplying oil at below market prices. Sri Lanka is easy meat for retaliation. At a time when Sri Lanka badly needs friends from outside of the West, it is a blunder of enormous proportion to cosy up to a country which is part and parcel of the Western world only to alienate at least 50 countries from the NAM. |
saleemtariq
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 23 Jul 2010 20:43:37 GMT Report for Abuse
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| This was intended to be a friendly gesture to the West when the Muslim countries in the NAM raise objections to the letter drafted by SLG to criticise Ban on his Advisory Panel. |
AnuD
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 24 Jul 2010 02:19:33 GMT Report for Abuse
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Reading the Comments, it looks Sri Lanka is working intelligently in the foreign circles.
Need to play the right card at the right time. |
p007
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24 Jul 2010 02:25:27 GMT Report for Abuse
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Reading the Comments, it looks Sri Lanka is working intelligently in the foreign circles.
Are you serious or being sarcastic? |
RSunil
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24 Jul 2010 04:43:47 GMT Report for Abuse
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| We continue to put square pegs in round holes and this is the result. So long as political cronies are kept satisfied, the country can go to the dogs! |
DONP
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24 Jul 2010 15:54:09 GMT Report for Abuse
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Enough trouble for making a Diplomat out of a soldier?
How if a President was made out of a Soldier? |
RSunil
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25 Jul 2010 10:32:46 GMT Report for Abuse
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How if a President was made out of a Soldier?
That may sometimes not be bad. What we now need is some discipline at the top. If we continue to pander to populist programs, we will continue to go downhill. |
saleemtariq
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25 Jul 2010 19:30:28 GMT Report for Abuse
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Similarities and comparisons between Israel and Sri Lanka
1. Israel occupies Palestinian territories and build settlements for Jewish settlers with the aid given by US.
Sri Lankan govt is building new settlements (5,000 houses have been completed)in Kilinochchi for the Sinhala soldiers and their families with the aid foreign governments and institutions gave for the rehabilitation of IDP's.
2. Palestinians are forced to languish in camps by the Israeli govt while their lands are allocated to Jews
Sri Lanka govt seized houses from Tamils and Muslims and set upHSZ for the military to occupy under ER.
Note: Sri Lankan govt increased the Defense expenditure by Rs 24 billions and reduced expenditure on Health and Education by Rs 10 billions in 2010 ONE year after the end of ethnic war and annihilation of LTTE. This is calculated measure to increase fighters and deduce healthy and intellectual future generation.
3. Israel blockaded food/medicine and other basics and bombed and shelled Palestinian homes and killed 1,800 in a week while Sri Lankan govt blocked the basics to Tamils and bombed and killed an estimate of 40,000 Tamils in 5 months.
4. Both countries resist UN probe of human rights violations and alleged war crimes with the help of veto yielding US, China and Russia.
5. Both countries increase their expenditure on defense while SriLanka also reducing expenditure on education and health.
Edited By - saleemtariq - 25 Jul 2010 19:36:25 GMT |
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23 Jul 2010 15:10:36 GMT