NEW DELHI: No settlement to defuse continuing Indo Sri Lanka dispute over the time table for a total pullout of the Indian peacekeeping force could be reached as the weeklong dialogue concluded. here on Friday. There was also no agreement on the parallel question of a suitable time frame for the devolution of political power to the Tamils. Though both sides did not wish to say that the prolonged parleys have in fact failed, but the outcome was all too obvious. There was not even a joint communique.
Even as the visiting Sri Lanka delegation led by the Sri Lanka’s foreign minister Rajan Wijeratne was preparing to leave New Delhi for Colombo, the Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner issued a statement that the delegation will submit a report to the Sri Lankan President Ranasinghe Premdasa for his consideration and decision. Shortly after Sri Lankan statement was released the Indian spokesman of the foreign ministry said that the Sri Lankan delegation is carrying with them the ideas and suggestions, which has emerged during the week long discussions.
The delegation will convey these matters to their president so that ‘bath sides can decide on the next steps, ‘the Indian spokesman added.
According to the diplomatic sources the Indian delegation and not submit any specific proposal to defuse the situation but the parallel message simply added that both sides presented their proposals for resolving the issue involved during the discussions. The issues kept both sides a pole apart that an apparent attempt to issue a joint statement was given up. The visiting delegation which also included the Sri Lankan minister for higher education. Mr. Armin, foreign secretary Barnard Tilak ratne met with the Indian foreign minister Narasimha Rao on Friday in an attempt to narrow down their differences. But these efforts could not bear any fruit.
The Sri Lankan delegation also met the Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on July 31 It is worthy to mention that India has spent 2.3 billions on IPKF up to the end of June 1989 in Sri Lanka.
Article extracted from this publication >> August 11, 1989
