GL to phone Ban to reiterate SL’s position

Strong support for SL from Russia and China

Both China and the Russian Federation are extending strong support to Sri Lanka on her demand that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon desists from publishing the damaging report of his advisory panel on accountability issues relating to the final phase of Sri Lanka’s 30-year war against terrorism, External Affairs Minister G.L. Pieris said yesterday.

Ambassador Vladimir. P. Mikhaylov Friday met Pieris and conveyed his government’s position to the minister while Chinese Ambassador Mme. Yang Xiu Ping has also consistently assured the minister that Beijing considers the matters raised by the Ban Panel as local issues adequately handled by the Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission.

These positions have been conveyed by both China and Russia at a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Security Council held in New York on Monday, Pieris said.

The minister, who left for Oman last evening, is also due to speak ``very soon’’ on the telephone to Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to reiterate Sri Lanka’s position on the publication of the report and urge him to desist from a course of action detrimental to a UN member state and the UN system, well informed sources said.

They indicated that contacts with other member countries of the Security Council are also underway.

Pieris said that the Russian position has been stated in a ``clear and emphatic statement’’ that has been handed to him by the ambassador.

``Why are we so firmly opposed to the publication of this document?’’ said the minister. ``This action they want to take (publication of the panel report) places in jeopardy the whole UN system and the role of its various bodies, particularly the Security Council.’’

He explained that Chapter 7 of the UN Charter defines the responsibilities and powers, including veto power, assigned to the Security Council and the legal consequences of resolutions passed there. All this is intended to maintain peace and tranquility internationally.

``Now what we have here is that the SG on his own initiative appointed a panel to advise him and is now preparing to publish their report. The appointment of the panel had no sanction from the UN General Assembly or the Security Council,’’ Pieris said.

``This is entirely contrary to principles with consequences far beyond the Sri Lanka situation.’’

The minister made the point that when the UNSG (or for that matter any other authority) appoints an advisory panel, such advise may be tendered either orally or in writing.

``What happens if the party to whom the advise is tendered unilaterally and arbitrarily chooses to publish it?,’’ he asked. ``If this is done in Sri Lanka’s case an unsound and dangerous precedent would be set.’’

The minister further said that the publication of the panel report would be gravely damaging to the reconciliation process. At a time when it is attempted to heal old wounds, they’re trying to probe them aggravating tensions.

``The UN system should try to facilitate the reconciliation process with every resource available to it. The publication of the report is contrary to that.’’

Moscow has seen the present situation as one challenging the basic principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of an independent state with the UNSG exceeding the powers given him by the UN Charter and in conflict with the previous assurance that the sole purpose of the panel was advisory.

At the April 18 New York meeting, Russia had criticized the working methods of the UN Secretariat saying that the actions of the SG must be based on the mandate of the Security Council or the General Assembly or the request of the government concerned.

Moscow has seen Sri Lanka’s actions in this regard as constructive and assured the minister that they will convey their views to the SG. China too has expressed a strong view on the action proposed by the SG at the New York meeting.

``The Chinese ambassador has been in regular touch with me and indicated that this is China’s stance,’’ the minister said.