Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO1055
2007-07-31 06:16:00
SECRET
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
SRI LANKA: LITTLE PROGRESS ON COMPLIANCE WITH
how-toVZCZCXYZ0008 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHLM #1055 2120616 ZNY SSSSS ZZH O 310616Z JUL 07 FM AMEMBASSY COLOMBO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 6532 INFO RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0319 RUEHBUL/AMEMBASSY KABUL PRIORITY 1346 RUEHKT/AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU PRIORITY 5416 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 1235 RUEHUNV/USMISSION UNVIE VIENNA PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 2238 RHHMUNA/HQ USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY RHEHAAA/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHINGTON DC PRIORITY
S E C R E T COLOMBO 001055
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, ISN/RA (NEPHEW)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL ETTC EFIN IR CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LITTLE PROGRESS ON COMPLIANCE WITH
UNSCR 1747
REF: A. STATE 101574
B. STATE 038701
C. STATE 014071
D. 06 STATE 231829
E. COLOMBO 515
F. COLOMBO 508
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
S E C R E T COLOMBO 001055
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, ISN/RA (NEPHEW)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL ETTC EFIN IR CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LITTLE PROGRESS ON COMPLIANCE WITH
UNSCR 1747
REF: A. STATE 101574
B. STATE 038701
C. STATE 014071
D. 06 STATE 231829
E. COLOMBO 515
F. COLOMBO 508
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On July 26, Acting DCM and Econ Chief called on
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary for UN and
Multilateral Affairs Sarala Fernando to follow up on earlier
demarches (refs E and F) urging Sri Lanka to comply with
UNSCR 1747. EmbOffs specifically emphasized the requirement
to freeze accounts owned or controlled by Bank Sepah and Bank
Sepah International. Econ Chief stated that the state-owned
Bank of Ceylon still maintains a correspondent relationship
with Bank Sepah which Sri Lanka needs to terminate in order
to comply with UNSCR 1747. Econ Chief further noted that the
Central Bank officials had told him that they were ready to
instruct all Sri Lankan banks to sever any links they have
with Bank Sepah, but that the Central Bank had not yet
received instructions from the Ministry of Finance regarding
UNSCR 1747's sanctions on Bank Sepah. Fernando claimed a lack
of familiarity with the details of the resolution and asked
if Bank Sepah was specifically mentioned in the UN
resolution. Econ Chief claimed that it was. Fernando
undertook to further review the situation and follow up with
the Embassy.
2. (C) Econ Chief reminded Fernando that the Government of
Sri Lanka (GSL) has yet to submit an implementation report on
compliance with either UNSCR 1737 or 1747. Fernando inquired
how many countries had complied with the reporting
requirements. Econ Chief replied that roughly 20, including
India and Bangladesh, have complied only with the mandatory
reporting under UNSCR 1737, and that over 50 more have
submitted reports on compliance with both resolutions.
3. (S) Econ Chief observed that Sri Lanka had purchased
arms from Iran within the past five years, and noted that any
further purchases would be in contravention of the GSL's
obligations under the UN Charter, which commit it to
enforcing Security Council-mandated sanctions. Fernando
suggested that ongoing contractual obligations might pose
some problems for implementation.
4. (C) A/DCM, noting that Fernando had only recently assumed
her functions, requested that that she personally look into
the implementation of UNSC resolutions 1737 and 1747 and take
necessary action to bring Sri Lanka into compliance. He
advised her that Embassy, as per ref A, will continue to
raise the issue of implementing the Security Council
resolutions at more senior levels, including in future
meetings with the Foreign Secretary or Foreign Minister. Post
will report results of future demarches septel.
MOORE
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INS, ISN/RA (NEPHEW)
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/26/2017
TAGS: KNNP PARM PREL ETTC EFIN IR CE
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA: LITTLE PROGRESS ON COMPLIANCE WITH
UNSCR 1747
REF: A. STATE 101574
B. STATE 038701
C. STATE 014071
D. 06 STATE 231829
E. COLOMBO 515
F. COLOMBO 508
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires James R. Moore, for reasons 1.4(b,d).
1. (C) On July 26, Acting DCM and Econ Chief called on
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Additional Secretary for UN and
Multilateral Affairs Sarala Fernando to follow up on earlier
demarches (refs E and F) urging Sri Lanka to comply with
UNSCR 1747. EmbOffs specifically emphasized the requirement
to freeze accounts owned or controlled by Bank Sepah and Bank
Sepah International. Econ Chief stated that the state-owned
Bank of Ceylon still maintains a correspondent relationship
with Bank Sepah which Sri Lanka needs to terminate in order
to comply with UNSCR 1747. Econ Chief further noted that the
Central Bank officials had told him that they were ready to
instruct all Sri Lankan banks to sever any links they have
with Bank Sepah, but that the Central Bank had not yet
received instructions from the Ministry of Finance regarding
UNSCR 1747's sanctions on Bank Sepah. Fernando claimed a lack
of familiarity with the details of the resolution and asked
if Bank Sepah was specifically mentioned in the UN
resolution. Econ Chief claimed that it was. Fernando
undertook to further review the situation and follow up with
the Embassy.
2. (C) Econ Chief reminded Fernando that the Government of
Sri Lanka (GSL) has yet to submit an implementation report on
compliance with either UNSCR 1737 or 1747. Fernando inquired
how many countries had complied with the reporting
requirements. Econ Chief replied that roughly 20, including
India and Bangladesh, have complied only with the mandatory
reporting under UNSCR 1737, and that over 50 more have
submitted reports on compliance with both resolutions.
3. (S) Econ Chief observed that Sri Lanka had purchased
arms from Iran within the past five years, and noted that any
further purchases would be in contravention of the GSL's
obligations under the UN Charter, which commit it to
enforcing Security Council-mandated sanctions. Fernando
suggested that ongoing contractual obligations might pose
some problems for implementation.
4. (C) A/DCM, noting that Fernando had only recently assumed
her functions, requested that that she personally look into
the implementation of UNSC resolutions 1737 and 1747 and take
necessary action to bring Sri Lanka into compliance. He
advised her that Embassy, as per ref A, will continue to
raise the issue of implementing the Security Council
resolutions at more senior levels, including in future
meetings with the Foreign Secretary or Foreign Minister. Post
will report results of future demarches septel.
MOORE