SECURITY COUNCIL REACTS OFFICIALLY TO SITUATION IN

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 000508

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL PGOV UNSC CE PHUM PREF
SUBJECT: SECURITY COUNCIL REACTS OFFICIALLY TO SITUATION IN
SRI LANKA

REF: USUN 494


1. (U) The UK, France and Austria circulated a draft Security
Council press statement on Sri Lanka in the evening of May
12, and formally introduced the text in Council consultations
under other matters May 13. They stressed that the Security
Council must react in a formal way to the situation in Sri
Lanka. Strongly supported by the U.S., Croatia, Costa Rica,
Mexico, and for the first time, Uganda and Burkina Faso, the
text was negotiated throughout the day and adopted late on
May 13 as a press statement of the Security Council. (See
text at para 4).


2. (U) China and Vietnam initially opposed any official
statement by the Council, but eventually joined the
negotiation. In a change to its previous position, Russia
accepted the idea of a press statement, although it
unhelpfully mentioned that the Security Council had not
addressed "similar" issues such as Guantanamo, Afghanistan,
Gaza, and the August 2008 conflict in Georgia. Russia, China
and Vietnam only accepted the press statement after
references to reported violations of international
humanitarian law and to welcoming the Secretary-General's
intention to visit Sri Lanka were stricken from the draft.


3. (U) This marks the first time that the Security Council
has reacted officially to the situation in Sri Lanka. In
addition, the press statement contains new and improved
language on protection of civilians, concern over the use of
heavy weaponry, and the needs for NGOs to have access to
those affected by the conflict.


4. (U) Russian PR Churkin issued the following press
statement on Sri Lanka on May 13:

The Members of the Security Council:

- Express greave concern over the worsening humanitarian
crisis in North-East Sri Lanka, in particular the reports of
hundreds of civilian casualties in recent days, and call for
urgent action by all parties to ensure the safety of
civilians;
- Strongly condemn the LTTE for its acts of terrorism over
many years, and for its continued use of civilians as human
shields and acknowledge the legitimate right of the
Government of Sri Lanka to combat terrorism;
- Demand that the LTTE lay down its arms and allow the tens
of thousands of civilians still in the conflict zone to leave;
- Express deep concern at the reports of continued use of
heavy calibre weapons in areas with high concentrations of
civilians, and expect the Government of Sri Lanka to fulfill
its commitment in this regard;
- Demand that all parties respect their obligations under
international humanitarian law;
- Call on the Government of Sri Lanka to take the further
necessary steps to facilitate the evacuation of the trapped
civilians and the urgent delivery of humanitarian assistance
to them;
- Take note of the steps by the Government of Sri Lanka to
address the humanitarian situation of displaced persons and
call on the Government of Sri Lanka to ensure the security of
those displaced by the conflict and to cooperate with the UN,
the ICRC, and other international humanitarian organizations
in providing humanitarian relief and access to them as soon
as they leave the Conflict Zone;
- Reiterate support for the personal involvement of the UN
Secretary General and urge the Government of Sri Lanka to
extend full cooperation to the UN in order to resolve the
humanitarian crisis;
- Mindful of the necessity to find a long-term solution
without the threat of violence, underline that the needs of
all communities in Sri Lanka have to be addressed.
Rice