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Sri Lanka could lose trade concessions in EU spat
* EU says not meddling in Sri Lankan politics
* Colombo defiant as July 1 deadline looms
BRUSSELS, June 30 (Reuters) - The European Commission on Wednesday rejected Sri Lankan accusations that a letter it sent urging the south Asian country to comply with conditions tied to a trade concession agreement was politically motivated.
The European Union's executive wrote to Colombo on June 17, requesting the government fully comply with and implement provisions of international human rights agreements and the United Nations convention against torture.
For more than a year Sri Lanka has defied Western pressure over accountability for potential war crimes and human rights violations in the last stages of its quarter-century war with the separatist Tamil Tigers, which it won in May 2009.
"The Commission would be grateful to receive from your government, by July 1, a letter containing a firm undertaking to address by the end of the year, the principle outstanding issues," said the letter, seen by Reuters.
"Over the longer term, the European Commission looks forward to addressing the full range of human rights issues with the government of Sri Lanka," it said.
The letter, signed by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht, had urged Sri Lanka to lift wartime emergency laws that grant the government wide powers of arrest.
Sri Lankan officials rejected the request from the 27-nation EU, saying demands for accountability were fuelled by supporters of the Tamil Tigers. [ID:nSGE65N0AJ]
"To suggest that any decision by the EU in respect of GSP+ (trade concessions) and Sri Lanka is politically motivated and to link it to the elections of this year is entirely false," said John Clancy, the European Commission's trade spokesman.
"The government of Sri Lanka is very well aware that this is a legal process that began several years ago and to suggest otherwise is simply misleading," he said.
DEADLINE LOOMS
As the July 1 reply deadline looms, the European Union has warned that Sri Lanka risks losing access from Aug. 15 to its biggest export market if it fails to comply.
In February, EU states said they would temporarily withdraw preferential tariff benefits to Sri Lanka under the Generalised System of Preferences Plus (GSP+) scheme because of concerns about Sri Lanka's human rights record. [ID:nLDE61E1W0]
The potential loss, worth about 100 million euros ($122 million) annually in exports, would be a blow to Sri Lanka as the country is focused on resurrecting its $42 billion economy.
"We were not prepared to obtain these concessions at any cost. That's not the attitude of a self-respecting government," Sri Lankan Foreign Minister G.L. Peiris said.
Peiris had said Colombo would not reply to the EU's letter.
($1=.8172 euro) (Writing by Bate Felix; Editing by Jon Hemming)
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The majority of the main News Papers in the Country never took the trouble to educated the masses on current affairs for economic reasons as money mattered them more than any principles in the Country. They continue to brainwash the people and keep them in darkness by projecting a gloomy picture of the west in Sinhala Papers demanding to rally round the President as EU & UN is interferng in domestic affairs of the Country and that the soverignity is at threat. Yet the English papers plead for consideration for assistance.
This policy fitted in very well with the governments strategy in keeping masses in the dark on the developments of the world.
As result of being in darkness for too long the masses have become blind.
The President being fully aware of the ignorance of the innocent people cunnigly & hurriedly proposed an ammedment to the present 2 term of the Presidency to an ulimited No of Terms contradicting his own promise in Jan 2010 to abolish the same, furhter strengthing the present dictatioral behaviour, a right granted by the Constitution, for his insatiable greed for power.
Under the circumstances the proposed 15 conditions of EU were viewed and projected to the masses over the “MEDIA” as DEMONIC and a plot by the west against the Country and the Presdient due to the anger for crushing of LTTE ???Not a single Sinhala paper discussed the benefits to the people on implementation of these conditions in detail projecting to educate them. It was obvious that the Govt is not sincere in ruling the Country with democratic principles.
The way the insults were hurled at the EU & UN it was conclusive that the entire Cabinet were woken up from a beautiful dream and lack of objectivity. The President scornfully rejected tagging it along with the Constitution knowing full well that the implementation of them before the propsed ammendement to the Constitution would be disastrous for his march towards the final objective ‘DICTATORSHIP
It is the EU & UN, the only democratic institutions in the world that could avoid a 4th bloodshed in the making in Sri Lanka by pressurizing the Govt for the full implementation of these conditions. Besides it is only by the funds that of the US,UK & EU the Country developed over the last 35 years. It will not be long for people to really experience and enjoy the true freedom prevailing in the your part of the world for which they will be ever so greatful for the unwavering stance taken by the UN,EU & US against a Dictatorial regime installing in Sri Lanka by China.
Sri Lanka after the war now becoming pearl of Indian Ocean again booming Tourism, Mega projects like New Airports, Harbours and high ways Etc. The Indian and Chineese factor making strategic moves of to establish in this island after some years the sea routes controlling Australasia, Japan Etc on their hands.
In presence of Weak Opposition politicians against Government, make their moves easy even consolidating Pro LTTE supports to their own fray.
It is recomended to suggest before Chineese, Indians and Russians are cemented in the island, EU and US should change attitude towards Sri Lanka and settledown. Otherwise US and EU become written off catogory in time to come, in view of the mighty economic boom and power of Chineese and Indian Power.
Therefore US and EU, should take your decision now or your imporatnce faded soon in the Indian Ocean time to come.
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