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