India appeals peaceful negotiated settlement in Srilanka

Berhampore (WB), Feb 21 (PTI) India Saturday expressed
concern over the latest turn of events in Sri Lanka,
particularly the air raids by LTTE over Colombo, and
appealed to the government and the militant organisation
to come to a peaceful negotiated settlement.

It also said unless there was a congenial and peaceful
atmosphere, attacks and counter-attacks would continue.

"An LTTE plane has been shot down. This is of concern.
Political solution has to be found to the LTTE issue and
military action will not do," India's External Affairs
Minister Pranab Mukhjerjee, told reporters Saturday.

Maintaining that "a political solution is the only
way out, he said "The two sides should sit across the table
for a negotiated settlement of the issue.

"And, for that a congenial and peaceful atmosphere
has to be created. Till that is not forthcoming, attacks and
counter-attacks will continue to hit the country.

Stating that India's stand was 'very clear',Mukherjee
said "we are concerned. We are concerned for the huge Sri
Lankan Tamil population who have been caught in the crossfire.
They are being killed and their normal life is seriously
affected."

He said India would appeal to Colombo to ensure that
the rights of the minority Tamils were protected.

Mukherjee was here for a credit camp of UCO Bank at
Raghunathganj, 60 km from here, in Murshidabad district.

Recalling the treaty signed in 1987 between the
then Sri Lankan President and late Prime Minister Rajiv
Gandhi, Mukherjee said "the decisions arrived there should be
implemented.

"The decision for decentralisation of power and more
powers to the provincial council .... should be followed," the
minister said.

Mukherjee said the Tamils and other ethnic minorities
in Sri Lanka must have an arrangement where there legitimate
aspirations should be fulfilled within the framework of the
Sri Lankan Constitution without affecting the territorial
unity and sovereignty of Sri Lanka.

He said India expected a devolution package can be
evolved fulfilling this criteria and the present impasse
overcome. That should be the basis of restoration of
normalcy, he added. PTI Corr
SAK
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