| Major effort to counter terrorism by Shamindra Ferdinando SAARC foreign ministers, under the chairmanship of Sri Lanka's Lakshman Kadirgamar are scheduled to have a structured meeting during the United Nations General Assembly [UNGA]. "They as a group will meet foreign ministers of ASEAN and the European Union," an official said. During the recent Colombo summit, SAARC Heads of State recognised the serious threat posed by terrorism in all its forms and narcotics. They have identified the urgent need to complete legislation to permit the implementation of regional conventions on Suppression of Terrorism, Narcotics and Psychotropic substances. Ahead of the New York meeting, they [SAARC foreign ministers] will have a chance to meet in Durban during the Non Aligned Movement [NAM] summit from August 28 to September 3. "Sri Lanka is keen to see an international campaign against terrorism," an official said. Kadirgamar in a message - issued before US missile strikes on terrorist targets - to US Secretary of State Ms. Madeleine Albright , while condemning the attacks on US missions in Africa has supported US efforts to bring perpetrators to justice. However SAARC members are divided over international terrorism and particularly on measures adopted by US, Israel and European countries to fight what they identify as terrorism. "Divisions came to light after US missile strikes on targets in Afghanistan and Sudan," he pointed out. Sri Lankan sources said that SAARC should have a mechanism to fight terrorism in member countries. Sources said that there must be co-operation at different levels to combat terrorism and also to carry out rescue operations in the event of major attacks. Recently, British, French and Israeli military joined US forces in rescue operations in Kenya. Asked to comment, an authoritative US source said that "they offered help and we accepted." SAARC is expected to explore the possibility of co-operation when Sri Lanka makes arrangements for a meeting of SAARC legal experts on terrorism, narcotics and other related matters. "The meeting will take place in Colombo," an official said. He said no dates have been fixed. The prime ministers of India and Pakistan will meet in Durban on the sidelines of the summit, diplomatic sources said. "They will probably try to pick up from where they left in Colombo," an official said. Contrary to speculation, there has been no meetings between India and Pakistan at any level after the brief Colombo meeting which failed to produce the desired results, analysts said. Asked whether Sri Lanka or SAARC has any role in the proposed meeting in Durban, an informed official said "not likely." Although Pakistan has expressed a desire for third party mediation, India in no uncertain terms has ruled out mediators or facilitators. SAARC Chairperson President Chandrika Kumaratunga is expected to lead the delegation to Durban which includes Kadirgamar and several senior foreign ministry officials. However in view of the security threats, the government has not announced the president's plans. "We really do not know whether she was going," a highly placed official admitted. In her absence Kadirgamar will lead the delegation. President Kumaratunga did not attend the last NAM summit at Cartegena, Columbia. Officials said that Sri Lanka is keen to further improve relations with South Africa whether separatist LTTE was engaged in a massive fund raising campaign. Although South Africa has refused to permit the LTTE to establish offices there, the presence in that country of a large number of people with Indian origin has helped the LTTE to raise funds, a senior Sri Lankan official said. There are over 600,000 Dravidians in Durban and approximately 150,000 in Johannesburg he said. Nine per cent of the 400 member South Africa parliament were Dravidians. Sri Lanka has requested South Africa [after the ANC came into power] to be vigilant of LTTE activities. |