Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07COLOMBO232
2007-02-07 02:46:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Colombo
Cable title:
FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES INITIAL PRIORITIES AND
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UNCLAS COLOMBO 000232
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV CE
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES INITIAL PRIORITIES AND
TRAVEL SCHEDULE
UNCLAS COLOMBO 000232
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV CE
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES INITIAL PRIORITIES AND
TRAVEL SCHEDULE
1. (SBU) Sri Lanka's new Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama
convoked diplomatic heads of mission on February 6 to outline
his initial priorities and travel plans. Noting his prior
experience as Minister of Industries, then Minister of
Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Bogollagama
said he already had cordial relations with most of the
diplomatic corps and wished to be accessible to all
Ambassadors. He said President Rajapaksa now enjoys a wider
consensus of support as a result of the recent cabinet
changes. He stressed that the President remains committed to
a negotiated settlement and to establishing Sri Lanka as a
responsible and democratic nation. He told the heads of
mission that he had spoken with Minister Tissa Vitharana that
morning and that the minister had informed him that he
expects a devolution proposal to be ready six weeks from now,
after which it will go to the All-Party Conference for
consideration.
2. (SBU) The Minister informed the diplomatic corps that he
had already visited India and Germany during his first days
in office. (NOTE: The visit to Germany had been previously
scheduled by former Foreign Minister Samaraweera; Bogollagama
chose to keep that scheduled visit.) Bogollagama said he
plans to travel to the Maldives on a state visit with
President Rajapaksa on February 11, then to Pakistan, China
(again on a State Visit with the President),Iran in early
March, the US, UK, Italy and France.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: It is noteworthy that the Minister will
be visiting Pakistan, Iran and China so early in his tenure,
while he did not even mention possible visits to Norway,
Japan or Brussels. Pakistan, Iran and China increasingly are
emerging as partners for Sri Lanka willing to provide
assistance, including offensive weaponry, with no strings
attached or questions asked.
BLAKE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR SCA/INS, USPACOM FOR FPA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PTER PGOV CE
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTER OUTLINES INITIAL PRIORITIES AND
TRAVEL SCHEDULE
1. (SBU) Sri Lanka's new Foreign Minister Rohita Bogollagama
convoked diplomatic heads of mission on February 6 to outline
his initial priorities and travel plans. Noting his prior
experience as Minister of Industries, then Minister of
Enterprise Development and Investment Promotion, Bogollagama
said he already had cordial relations with most of the
diplomatic corps and wished to be accessible to all
Ambassadors. He said President Rajapaksa now enjoys a wider
consensus of support as a result of the recent cabinet
changes. He stressed that the President remains committed to
a negotiated settlement and to establishing Sri Lanka as a
responsible and democratic nation. He told the heads of
mission that he had spoken with Minister Tissa Vitharana that
morning and that the minister had informed him that he
expects a devolution proposal to be ready six weeks from now,
after which it will go to the All-Party Conference for
consideration.
2. (SBU) The Minister informed the diplomatic corps that he
had already visited India and Germany during his first days
in office. (NOTE: The visit to Germany had been previously
scheduled by former Foreign Minister Samaraweera; Bogollagama
chose to keep that scheduled visit.) Bogollagama said he
plans to travel to the Maldives on a state visit with
President Rajapaksa on February 11, then to Pakistan, China
(again on a State Visit with the President),Iran in early
March, the US, UK, Italy and France.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: It is noteworthy that the Minister will
be visiting Pakistan, Iran and China so early in his tenure,
while he did not even mention possible visits to Norway,
Japan or Brussels. Pakistan, Iran and China increasingly are
emerging as partners for Sri Lanka willing to provide
assistance, including offensive weaponry, with no strings
attached or questions asked.
BLAKE