E&OE
13 October 2008
Joint Press Conference with the Hon Rohitha Bogollagama, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka
STEPHEN SMITH: Firstly I'd like to formally and officially welcome Foreign Minister Bogollagama to Australia. It's his first visit to Australia both individually and as Foreign Minister, and I think it's the first visit by a Sri Lankan Foreign Minister to Australia for over a decade. So we welcome very much the Foreign Minister here.
We've just come from a formal bilateral meeting and we'll continue discussions over lunch. It's not the first occasion that we've had the opportunity to meet. We met in the margins of the ASEAN-related meetings in Singapore earlier this year and more recently, in the margins of the UN General Assembly, we met in New York. There's a longstanding good friendship and relationship between Australia and Sri Lanka. There's a significant Sri Lankan diaspora in Australia, a significant part of the Australian community, most of whom, as you'd be aware, in Melbourne and Sydney but there are small numbers elsewhere, including in my own capital city in Perth.
Our relationship is a very good one. In recent years, our trade has increased significantly. Our two-way trade is now almost $300 million. Australia has a significant development assistance program so far as Sri Lanka is concerned, nearly $30 million, which goes in the main to education, food aid, humanitarian assistance, and also civil society and supporting peace processes and peace outcomes.
And I've indicated today that so far as one of our basic education programs is concerned, Australia will be allocating $6 million over three years in conjunction with UNICEF for a further education program. In addition to those formal contacts, of course one thing we share in common, which we spoke about briefly, is cricket. My considered view is that Australia doesn't yet have enough runs, but the Foreign Minister is a bit more confident than I am. But we of course share that great game in common.
We spent a considerable amount of time talking about, I think in quite frank terms, about the difficulty which Sri Lanka faces so far as the peace processes and terrorism are concerned. And can I again indicate, as I did to the Foreign Minister, our condolences on the recent assassination of General Perera, our condemnation of terrorist activity by the LTTE, and our very strong support of peace processes and an enduring peace in Sri Lanka.
As you know, Australia has a longstanding position that military action itself will not be sufficient to secure an enduring peace in Sri Lanka, and we spoke at length about the plans which the Government has to seek to bring a long-term enduring peace to Sri Lanka. We of course discussed very many of the issues which have been of concern to Sri Lanka to Australia and the international community: damage done to civilians in the course of armed conflict; displaced persons; human rights; the need for both the international community and Australia to render assistance both in humanitarian and development systems terms; and also to lend support to condemnation of terrorists and to lend support to the peace process.
As you know, Australia was disappointed when the peace process was formally disbanded in January of this year, and we had a long, productive and frank conversation about the desire of Sri Lanka to end up in a position where this a long-term, enduring, sustainable peace in Sri Lanka. And in this objective, Sri Lanka has Australia's support.
The Foreign Minister very warmly invited me to visit Sri Lanka, which I'm hopeful of doing in the course of next year, in addition to having a very strong, friendly and productive bilateral relationship. Of course, we are regional partners, and I thanked the Foreign Minister very warmly for Sri Lanka's support of Australia becoming an observer of SAARC, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation. This is a significant regional body and it further integrates Australia into the Asian and Pacific community, and Australia looks very much forward to going to the Maldives in the first half of next year for our first SAARC meeting as an observer, and with a bit of luck, we might be able to arrange for a visit to Sri Lanka at about that time.
So Minister, thank you very much for coming to Australia. We've had productive talks this morning. They'll continue over lunch. We warmly welcome you and we hope that you enjoy not just your time in Canberra but also your time in Melbourne and Sydney. One of the reasons I invited the Foreign Minister was because of the difficulties which Sri Lanka has so far as terrorism and the peace process is concerned. We both believe it would be a good idea for the Minister to have the opportunity of articulating the Sri Lankan Government's view to the Australian community and to the Sri Lankan diaspora and community in Australia. So Minister, we warmly welcome you and I'd be very pleased if you could make your opening remarks. Thank you.
ROHITHA BOGOLLAGAMA: Thank you, Excellency, my friend, Honourable Minister of Foreign Affairs, Stephen Smith. It's a great honour for me to be associated with you today during the first bilateral visit by a Sri Lankan Foreign Minister after 10 years.
Though we have come late, our friendship between the two countries remain close. At the time of my visit, in another few months we'll be celebrating 60 years of our diplomatic relations with Australia. Since independence, Australia was our fourth mission opening in 1949, and they chose [indistinct] to Australia as a partner of Sri Lanka. I am indeed happy about the Sri Lankan diaspora that has made Australia both a destination and a home, and I must thank the Australian Government for being a good host to the Sri Lankan diaspora.
As we discussed during our talks, a variety of issues came into light. I am indeed happy, Honourable Minister, that we had the privilege, and I was honoured by my previous meetings with you both at the - on the sidelines of ARF in Singapore, and most recently in New York on the sidelines of the UNGA. I witnessed the keen interest of your Government towards forging ahead on the international agenda, particularly on areas where we have a common interest, on counter-terrorism, on the international development agenda, on greater stability in the region, as I have witnessed within the ARF and also within the Commonwealth how we are to take positive action.
I must compliment you for your lead and your chair in the Commonwealth Action Group in terms of counter-terrorism, the committee that has been set up. We are looking forward for your valued contribution as the chair of that committee in addressing the issues that have been confronting us back at home in terms of terrorism. I am also happy that we were able to come into very frank discussion on issues that concerns Australia, as a friend of Sri Lanka, and that matters to Sri Lanka as a country that have been [inaudible] the forces that have been trying to undermine democracy.
Ours is a vibrant democracy, a country that is famous for its regularity in terms of elections and change in administrations and the pluralistic society, a vibrance in terms of day-to-day life being a very active political society. We are a country that have gone through this phase on a through-out basis, whilst countering terrorism.
Currently, as I mentioned to Your Excellency, we are looking at Sri Lanka in a greater democracy to all parts of our country including the parts that they've been hitherto held by the terrorists, the LTTE, and looking at liberating the people out of the LTTE clutches and restoring democracy to all parts. We believe strongly in terms of the process that is provided for in the constitution for great implementation. We are also looking at the development agenda to all parts of Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's GDP is getting [inaudible] from the hitherto developed areas in the major centres in the western part of Sri Lanka. We want to take that shift, we want to make the shift to the peripheral sector of Sri Lanka to all regions so that the creative development agendas will prevail. And that will ultimately help the people and be greater value.
The assistance that comes from Australia on the human theory of development and also development agenda and the development mentioned in the educational assistance that is coming with your support to the UNICEF is greatly appreciated. At the same time, we have a society that we are mindful, a society that has been resisting the threats of terrorism and trying to look at a greater pluralistic development amongst our people. Your condemnation of the recent killing by the LTTE of our former High Commissioner to Australia, General Janaka Perera, is greatly appreciated along with his wife and 20 others.
We have been experiencing similar situations coming from the LTTE terrorism including the former foreign minister who visited Australia, Lakshman Kadirgamar, 10 years ago, being killed by the LTTE. But, at the same time, our Government is on record to have said as late as two days ago by my President, in addressing All Party Conference in Colombo on Saturday the 10th that Sri Lanka is committed to a political solution and that will not be from, begin about political solution to the conflict that is associated there. But, in doing so, we are to counter terrorism, as terrorism deserves to be countered in every manner, in every form of its manifestation. Thereby whilst countering terrorism we are addressing the political process and we are very much committed to a political solution to the issues and the - that, I must thank the understanding that has prevailed from Australia in our difficult period of countering terrorism.
During our talks, I mentioned that it's time that we proscribe the LTTE in Australia too, because LTTE has become a universal terrorist organisation; it is today banned in the United States of America; it is banned in Canada, it is banned in 27 countries in the European Union, it is banned in the United Kingdom and also it is banned in India. It has also been responsible for several killings including the Prime Minister of India, Rajiv Gandhi. And terrorism in Sri Lanka has not seen any colour, creed or boundary in terms of their strike and in terms of their devastation that they have brought to our society. So thereby it's time that we address terrorism and isolate the terrorists and bring in the community on board in terms of the political solutions.
We have a constitution that is provided for devolution of power and this is what our President is keen in the implementation process as mandated by the people to us. And also we are looking forward for greater connectivity with Australia in terms of our economic agenda. There have been several major investments made in Sri Lanka by Australia. We've got over 60 Australian companies contributing to our economy and immensely to our exports, to our growth in the economic sector of Sri Lanka. We're also looking at the educational opportunities that Australia has offered and encourage Sri Lankan students to get educated in this in Australia.
We value that opportunity that has been extended to Sri Lanka, by the Sri Lanka news to find educational development over the developed sector in Australia; I must compliment Australia on that. At the same time, we want greater connectivity between two countries, we need greater trade between two countries, currently our trade relationship is around 300 million Australian dollars, we have seen that. I think there's vast potential still available for further growth within our two countries in terms of trade and investment. Sri Lanka offers Australia, the destination, both to look at Sri Lanka and to access the Indian sub-continent because we are currently having FTA with India, which we will give access to one thousand million market in India and also a free trade agreement with Pakistan.
So Sri Lanka has become the centre point between India and Pakistan in terms of a free trade agreement and that will invite the Australian investors to take advantage of locating their enterprises, industries, in Sri Lanka, to take advantage of this prospect. And with these words and also cricket is something that we are gearing ourselves and we wish the Australian cricket the very best. We always enjoy watching Australian cricket as much as we want to see that Sri Lanka defeats Australia whenever possible, and with these cricketing times and I know the interests my friend the Foreign Minister has on cricket and it's time that he witnessed cricket in Sri Lanka with this next visit that I have extended my invitation to his Excellency Stephen Smith to undertake. And looking forward for a closer cooperation in all other areas of cooperation in terms of bilateral and in the multilateral fora.
And in a regional context we value Australia to be observer of the SAARC and I must welcome Australia to be an important member of the SAARC observer countries and to be part of our agenda in the greater development of South Asia fraternity with Australia. With these words I must thank for the invitation that I had to be part of this visit and for the hospitality that has been extended to me and to my delegation. Thank you.
SMITH: Well just before we start, I am supposed to be with the Prime Minister shortly after ten so we will have to be reasonably brief so I'll try and MC, yes?
QUESTION: Mr Smith, will you consider listing the Tamil Tigers as a terrorist organisation? And what is the Government doing to ensure that no fundraising is occurring in Australia that supports the organisation in Sri Lanka.
SMITH: Well, as I indicated to the Foreign Minister in the course of our meeting, there are two aspects. Firstly for a considerable period of time, the LTTE has been effectively listed under United Nations arrangements. That effects a freeze on LTTE assets in Australia and it's as a consequence, unlawful for the use of LTTE assets in Australia. Secondly, of course, is the listing or the proscribing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation under Australian domestic law. As I indicated to the Foreign Minister that is currently under consideration by the Attorney-General.
QUESTION: So, [inaudible] ask you, there'll be a large number of Tamil Australian Sri Lankas - Sri Lankans tomorrow demonstrating against you, you're talking about a peace process. What's your message to them because clearly not all of them are involved in fundraising, they are peace-loving Australian Sri Lankans but they feel very divided on this issue.
BOGOLLAGAMA: Madam, you gave me the answer as well. All Tamils are not LTTE, [inaudible] that Tamils are LTTE. The fact that LTTE, the terrorists that come from that community in terms of small numbers but we don't consider the Tamil community as part of the LTTE, they are part of us, we are all part of Sri Lankan identity, Sri Lankan society. My message to the Tamils who are supporters of the LTTE, if at all, is that it's not - now they have supported enough this terrorist organisation, it's time to detach their support from the LTTE and look at the political process in Sri Lanka and encourage the process in those lines in terms of democracy rather than terrorism.
QUESTION: So do you see anyone who demonstrates while you are here as being supporters of Tamil Tigers?
BOGOLLAGAMA: I think they are misguided and misled, in terms of having to support the LTTE. And the LTTE subjugation is not confined to the Tamils living in Sri Lanka only. That extends to the other locations. And that is the threat that comes from a terrorist organisation to anyone in society. As much as the threat comes to me, the threat is there to our brethren in the Tamil community.
QUESTION: Minister, can I just ask you, the troops are closing in on Kilinochchi, but last week the Government's budget forecast raising military spending to 18 per cent and at the same time forecast local and international borrowings rising 20 per cent. I'm just wondering, with international turmoil at the moment, do you hold any fears that - that that may slow the war effort or perhaps even cripple the Government in its ability to fund it?
BOGOLLAGAMA: Absolutely not, for the reason that we have come to the final stages of a virtual taking of the LTTE in terms of the locations that you rightly mention. Today the LTTE's confined to two small locations, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu. Earlier they had eight of those locations and with that our success in the east will get mirrored in the north and what we are to do is now to consolidate our approach towards engaging with the LTTE and seeing that there is no terrorism prevalent in those two districts. And we are quite confident our financial resources could sustain current engagement with the LTTE, but we need to sustain that. That is why we have to have the mobilisation and also the latest - greater devotion in terms of the military engagement.
QUESTION: So, Minister, are you saying that you are confident with the present campaign, that you will be able to bring the LTTE to the table on your terms?
BOGOLLAGAMA: It is like this. As I said, the President said this on Saturday, that as far as the LTTE is willing to lay down arms and start talking, and it's time that the LTTE does that. And we are ready to accept the LTTE on those lines. But, there is no arms tally, they can't negotiate whilst being engaged in the terrorism drive. That's why we want the arms to be laid down and for them to talk. And they as much as, there are other sections that have already been done, the [inaudible] has already embraced democracy and is today a Member of Parliament. In Sri Lanka, the number two who represented the LTTE on six rounds of peace talks from 2002 to 2005, so that he's part of that process today. The - the Chief Minister of the eastern province, a former child soldier, he has been truly elected by the people to administer the provincial council of the eastern province. So that shows the transformation that has taken place and why shouldn't it apply to Prabhakaran or the LTTE cadres now in Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu.
QUESTION: And so Janaka Perera, very well known in Australia, now as I understand you were, I think, previously part of his political party. Is that correct? You knew him quite well?
BOGOLLAGAMA: I knew him very well.
QUESTION: Yes. And what's the impact of his killing?
BOGOLLAGAMA: It's absolutely is most the brutal killing that we witnessed by the LTTE. Recently we had 20 of his colleagues were killed, along with his wife. And is a very sad day for us at the same time. He was a very respected emerging politician, so to say, he took to politics very recently, and he was a good soldier as well. And these - the LTTE doesn't see any reason, but they want to liquidate anyone that has opposed them.
QUESTION: Just on another matter, are you and other Ministers now reviewing your departmental budgets with a view to making cuts as a result of the Government's response to the global financial crisis.
SMITH: Well, all these budget matters are considered in the normal budget context. So it's not so much reviewing in the way in which you've put it, but there's a budget process which is ongoing. We are shortly to get to the very early commencement of that budget process. As always is the case in a budget, the Treasurer, the Minister for Finance, the Prime Minister, and the Cabinet, always have an eye to not just our domestic circumstances but to our international circumstances.
So of course, current financial international crisis will be taken into account. It's quite clear from the remarks of the Treasury yesterday that whilst we expect lower economic growth as a consequence, we expect to continue to see positive economic growth. But the budget will be considered, not just in my portfolio but across the board in the context of our domestic and international economic circumstances.
QUESTION: Can I speak to you to - you had frank discussions, which is very diplomatic. What did you actually say?
SMITH: Well I raised with the Foreign Minister Australia's long-standing concerns about wanting to have a long-term, enduring peace in Sri Lanka. I also raised our concerns about the need to ensure that people conducted themselves in a way in which civilian casualties were avoided, that when it came to displaced people that there was capacity for delivery of humanitarian assistance to displaced people, and both of these things apply to all parties concerned in the conflict.
And that we wanted to ensure that there was a very clear understanding that no long term, enduring solution could be found simply through the use of military force. And the bulk of our conversation was the Government strategy to effect or achieve that long term, enduring political peace. And we had a good conversation about what other people might describe as the potential for a semi-autonomous region, a devolution of authority in a particular area in accordance with the Sri Lankan Constitution.
But I expressed, as I have in the past, both to the Minister and publicly, Australia's long-standing concern about the need for human rights to be respected in Sri Lanka and for there to be an overriding view that this is a problem that can only be solved by political settlement, not through the force of arms. And that was a very good, productive conversation. One of the reasons, as I said earlier, that I thought it would be a good idea for the Minister to come was for the Minister to articulate these views not just to me but also to the Australian community and to the Sri Lankan community in Australia.
My officers are telling me that I'm running out of time, so was there - was there one over here? Sorry.
QUESTION: [inaudible] the Sri Lankan Minister, your response to what Australia said about the Sri Lankan human rights record and the opinion that the conflict in Sri Lanka currently resolved through military means alone. Are you - do you agree that you can't find a…
BOGOLLAGAMA: [inaudible] what quoted the President, as late as on Saturday, what he said to the All Party Conference that this is a conflict that we need to address the political issues. At the same time terrorism needs to be countered, the manner in which terrorists deserves to be countered. So that is why we have an agenda in countering terrorism whilst we're restoring democracy.
As the honourable Minister went on to mention, within the Constitution there are provisions [inaudible] certain situation, while [inaudible] devolution of power, et cetera, as provided for in the Constitution, is something that our President is looking at through the APRC [inaudible], that he called All Party Representative Committee, proposals are due, and through that means we are looking at the devolution process. And we will do that, the political solutions will come to political issues, but terrorism is overriding the political interest of the country and, therefore, terrorists need to be countered, as they deserve to be countered.
At the same time, the Minister mentioned on the human rights record, I discuss with - in detail with the honourable Minister how we are addressing the - Sri Lanka's profile concerning the human rights issues. And we have - I have given a detailed account, the progress we have made in that regard.
SMITH: Okay. Sorry, yes, thanks very much everyone. Thank you, Minister.
BOGOLLAGAMA: Thank you once again.
SMITH: Thank you. Okay. Thanks everyone.
[Ends]
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