SRI LANKA WILL SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON NEW

UNCLAS COLOMBO 001159 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: AORC KNNP MNUC TRGY CE IAEA SUBJECT: SRI LANKA WILL SUPPORT U.S. POSITION ON NEW SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON SAFEGUARDS AND VERIFICATION REF: A. STATE 30313 ¶B. COLOMBO 411 ¶1. Embassy presented Ref A demarche to the Sri Lankan Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 24. As reported Ref B, at that time the MFA could provide no specific response. ¶2. On June 28 the Embassy received a diplomatic note by fax from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicating Government of Sri Lanka support for the U.S. position. Text of the note follows below: ¶3. Begin text of diplomatic note: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Colombo, and has the honour to convey the Government of Sri Lanka's decision to support the US proposal for the establishment of a Committee of the IAEA on Safeguards and Verification to consider ways and means to strengthen the safeguards system. End text. LUNSTEAD