SRI LANKA SUPPORTS HOLDING IRAN TO INTERNATIONAL

UNCLAS COLOMBO 000919 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/INSB; PASS TO ISN/RA RICHARD NEPHEW E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PREF PHUM PTER EAID MOPS CE SUBJECT: SRI LANKA SUPPORTS HOLDING IRAN TO INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS REF: SECSTATE 100153 ¶1. (SBU) On September 28, PolOff discussed reftel points on existence of a covert uranium enrichment facility in Iran with Sri Lankan MFA U.N. and Multilateral Affairs Director General (DG) Aruni Wijewardene. Wijewardene had prior knowledge of the issue and expressed GSL support for holding Iran accountable on its international obligations and non-committal to full transparency of its nuclear program. She reiterated that Sri Lanka would not pursue this at a bi-lateral level, which needed to be addressed in the IAEA framework. Given Sri Lanka's developing relationship with Iran, PolOff pushed Wijewardene on engaging Iran on their nuclear program. DG shied from this and noted that Iran-Sri Lanka ties were purely on "economic issues." DG highlighted that Sri Lanka's Prime Minister presented strong views on non-proliferation at the on-going UNGA. ¶2. (SBU) Wijewardene also noted that the in his UNGA speech, PM echoed President Obama's UNGA remarks on "four pillars" for the future and on Palestinian rights. Wijewardene took this opportunity to address Sri Lanka's concerns with maritime security and non-proliferation of WMD. She proposed another U.S. and Sri Lanka co-hosted event to build on a UNSCR 1540 conference held in June 2009. Post will forward Wijewardene's proposal on a future event on non-proliferation when she makes it available. BUTENIS