14.1.2008

Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee has refused to criticize Sri Lanka for abrogating the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) with the LTTE and said Sri Lanka is well within its right to take action against terrorists. But, the government should also continue efforts to arrive at a solution to the problem of ethnic minorities, including the Tamils, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said.

Mr. Mukherjee has said that Sri Lanka is well within its right to take action against terrorists, but the government should also continue efforts to arrive at a solution to the problem of ethnic minorities, including the Tamils. (Full report)

Answering a query on the abrogation of the ceasefire on Karan Thapar's "Devil's Advocate" programme for CNN-IBN Mukherjee said: "We shall have to see what impact it has," reports IANS. Mukherjee has refused to criticise Sri Lanka for abrogating the ceasefire pact with the LTTE, saying that India was "not party to it (the ceasefire agreement)".

Answering a query on the abrogation of the ceasefire on Karan Thapar's "Devil's Advocate" programme for CNN-IBN Mukherjee said: "We shall have to see what impact it has," reports IANS.

"Of late the clashes between Sri Lankan forces and LTTE terrorists have increased. So far as the terrorism is concerned, our position is that India's position is zero tolerance. So any country that takes action against terrorists are free to do so within their legal system," he said.

On the issue of ethnic minorities, Mukherjee said, "So far as the solution to the problem of ethnic minorities, including the Tamilians, is concerned, so that their legitimate aspirations are fulfilled within the Sri Lankan system, that part should not be lax and efforts must continue to arrive at a solution."

On the invitation to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to attend Sri Lanka's 60th Independence anniversary celebrations, Mukherjee said that no decision has been taken yet. "As and when it will be decided we will let you know but no decision has yet been taken".

He added that the prime minster will attend the SAARC summit to take place in Colombo later this year.