BRITISH AND SRI LANKAN LEADERS DISCUSS POSSIBLE

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 001461

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/06/2016
TAGS: PGOV PTER PHUM CE
SUBJECT: BRITISH AND SRI LANKAN LEADERS DISCUSS POSSIBLE
BRITISH CONTRIBUTION TO PEACE PROCESS

REF: COLOMBO 1457

Classified By: CDA JAMES MOORE FOR REASONS 1.4(b) and (d)


1. (C) British High Commissioner in Colombo Dominick
Chilcott briefed Co-Chair representatives September 6 on
President Rajapaksa's August 31 meeting with Prime
Minister Blair near London. The origin of the meeting,
Chilcott explained, was a mutual recognition that the
UK's experience in peacemaking and conflict resolution in
Northern Ireland could be relevant to finding a
settlement to Sri Lanka's protracted civil conflict. The
meeting, announced on short notice, was intended to
explore the British experience in Northern Ireland,
establish a dialogue between the UK experts and Sri
Lankans, and identify concrete possible outcomes.
Chilcott emphasized that the initiative was not intended
to usurp the Co-Chair mechanism, that any actions
undertaken would be complementary to the Co-Chairs' work,
and that Co-Chairs would be kept apprised of
developments.

Drawing on the Northern Ireland Experience
--------------


2. (C) The first 40 minutes of the one-hour meeting were
devoted to a tete-a-tete between Prime Minister Blair and
President Rajapaksa, which ran significantly longer than
anticipated. Chilcott acknowledged that neither side
appears to have been fully briefed on the one-on-one
meeting. Chilcott understood, however, that this session
was largely given over to Rajapaksa's account of the
current situation in Sri Lanka. During the remaining 20
minutes, when the delegations joined the principals, the
discussion concentrated on the dynamics of the Northern
Ireland peace process. The British delegation emphasized
that in their experience results were obtained only when
the focus moved from which party to the conflict was
"right" or "wrong" to the more important question of "do
you support peace?"


3. (C) Rajapaksa asked the British government to select
persons knowledgeable about the Northern Ireland peace
process who would be invited to Sri Lanka to meet with
parties to the conflict. Chilcott said that possible
candidates have not yet been identified, but added that
he hoped the first visit could take place within the next
month. In addition, the UK offered to share with Sri
Lanka its experience in the devolution of power. The Sri
Lankan side welcomed this proposal and noted this could
be a useful input into the ongoing all parties conference
in Sri Lanka, which has met periodically in recent months
to consider avenues to a possible settlement. (Note: To
date, the meetings of the all parties conference have
produced no concrete results. End note.)

A Possible Role for Both the US and India
--------------


4. (C) Prime Minister Blair discussed the important
contribution made to the Northern Ireland peace process
by prominent US mediators, such as former Senator
Mitchell and former President Clinton, and linked the
active US role to the political influence wielded by the
Irish-American community in the US. Blair suggested that
India, with its large Tamil population and stature as a
regional power, might make a similar contribution to the
search for peace settlement in Sri Lanka. The Sri Lankan
delegation did not contest this suggestion.

5.(C) While the outside experts in the proposed
initiative, should it move forward, would be primarily
from the UK, Chilcott expressed to Charge interest in
including Americans with experience in the Northern

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Ireland peace process.

Comment
--------------


6. (C) Comment: Given the bleak assessment, following
five weeks of heavy fighting between Sri Lankan forces
and the LTTE in the north and east, of prospects for a
way forward to negotiations, a new approach and fresh
ideas are welcome. While it is conceivable that the
successful conclusion earlier this week of the government
push to take Sampur (reftel) may conceivably provide a
new dynamic and give both parties reason to return to
negotiations, we think the British proposal, including
the expression of interest in a US component, deserves
serious consideration, possibly at the Co-Chairs
September 12 meeting in Brussels. Sri Lanka lacks the
framework for a solution that would give negotiations a
real chance of success. This proposal could help to
create such a framework. A Co-Chairs meeting scheduled
for September 7 with Foreign Minister Samaraweera should
provide an opportunity to get a read-out from the
Government of Sri Lanka on the Blair-Rajapaksa meeting
and this possible initiative. End comment.
MOORE