Low key reaction to Secretary's UN Security

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000205

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS, SA/PD, NEA/NGA; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 02-06-13
TAGS: PREL PGOV KPAO CE MV IZ
SUBJECT: Low key reaction to Secretary's UN Security
Council speech on Iraq so far in Sri Lanka and Maldives

Refs: (A) Colombo 185

- (B) Colombo 170
- (C) Colombo 24
- (D) 02 Colombo 1879, and previous

(U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Deputy Chief of
Mission. Reasons 1.5 (b, d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: Reaction to the Secretary's speech to
the UN Security Council has been low key in Sri Lanka
and the Maldives. Press coverage was limited to wire-
service reports. Neither the GSL nor GoRM have issued
public statements as of yet. With the speech wrapping
up very late February 5 local time, our assessment is
that reaction will take several days to roll in. END
SUMMARY.


2. (SBU) Reaction to the Secretary's speech to the UN
Security Council has been low key in Sri Lanka and the
Maldives, thus far. The speech wrapped up very late
February 5 local time. Our assessment is that its
contents are just being digested and that reaction will
take time to develop.


3. (C) OFFICIAL REACTION: We have checked with Sri
Lankan MFA and Office of the Prime Minister contacts,
and they report that the GSL has not developed an
official reaction to the speech as of yet. (Note: Last
week, the GSL issued a constructive statement re Iraq --
see Ref B.) It is possible that a GSL press statement
will be forthcoming, but contacts are not sure, given
that key ministers, including senior government
spokesman G.L. Peiris, are in Berlin for talks with the
Tamil Tigers. Harim Peiris, a press spokesman for the
Office of President Kumaratunga, said he had "no
comment" on the speech at this time. Mission also
contacted the Maldivian MFA in Male, which reported that
it had no plans to issue a statement right away. Dr.
Shaheed, the MFA's Permanent Secretary, added that his
government was still reviewing the Secretary's comments.


4. (SBU) MEDIA REACTION: There is no locally-generated
media reaction to share at this point. Knowing that the
speech was scheduled, however, the English-language --
although not the vernacular -- press saved a few front-
page inches for wire-feed (Reuters, etc.) coverage under
headlines such as "Powell plays UN tapes suggesting
Iraqi evasion" (ISLAND, opposition English daily) and
"Don't shrink from disarming Iraq: Powell" (DAILY
MIRROR, independent English daily). Sri Lanka's
substantive media reaction (editorials, op-ed pieces,
etc.) will probably not be available until the weekend.
Mission also did not notice any coverage of Secretary
Powell's speech in the official Maldivian government
website "Haveeru," nor in the anti-GoRM website,
"Sandhaanu."


5. (SBU) That said, Mission is doing everything that it
can to get the story out. We are making tapes of the
speech available to Sri Lanka's government-owned and
independent TV channels for telecast prime time tonight
(2/6). We are also turning Washington File materials --
articles, visuals, etc. -- into press releases for
distribution to the media. Additionally, we are sending
out a press release reviewing the highlights of the
speech and making its text widely available.


6. (C) COMMENT: As mentioned above, we expect that
media and other reaction to the speech will take several
days to roll in. Per Ref B, the situation in the Gulf
region has been receiving increased press and public
attention in Sri Lanka of late. There is some concern
bubbling up, for example, that a possible war could
cause oil shortages and a collapse in remittances from
overseas workers. Despite the recent spurt in interest,
however, our assessment is that Sri Lankans seem
preoccupied with their very delicate peace process.
(Note: The fifth round of GSL and Tamil Tiger talks is
taking place in Berlin, February 7-8.) Given this
situation, Iraq does not appear destined to become a
major issue. END COMMENT.


7. (U) Minimize considered.

WILLS