Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the EU on Sri Lanka
The EU expresses deep concern about the large number of civilian casualties and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the North of Sri Lanka. ARTICLE EN COURS DE TRADUCTION.
The EU expresses deep concern about the large number of civilian casualties and deteriorating humanitarian situation in the North of Sri Lanka. The plight of the civilians still trapped by the fighting and who remain at extreme risk from the ongoing hostilities is our primary concern.
The EU strongly condemns the killings of civilians and calls on all parties to take all necessary action to avoid further civilian casualties. The EU condemns in the strongest possible terms the LTTE for the use of civilians as human shields. Both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE must fully comply with international humanitarian law and ensure the protection of civilians at all times.
The EU welcomed the two-day ceasefire declared by the Government of Sri Lanka. It welcomes reports that significant numbers of civilians could have escaped from the conflict zone, but the UN estimates that tens of thousands of civilians still remain caught in the conflict area. It welcomes the UN Secretary General’s decision to send a humanitarian team to the No Fire Zone, and calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to facilitate its work.
It urges the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to provide for the establishment of full and unrestricted access for humanitarian aid to be safely delivered, and to allow an evacuation of the civilians in the affected area without delay. It is now imperative for the UN and its staff to be allowed to facilitate relief operations and the evacuation of the civilians. The LTTE must allow civilians to leave the conflict area to move to safety without fear of injury.
We urge the Government of Sri Lanka to allow international oversight of all Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) as soon as they have left the conflict zone; and to fulfill the commitments it has made to improve conditions in the IDP camps including: better access to medical facilities; transparent registration processes; international monitoring; and freedom of movement in and out of the camps.
The EU calls on the Government of Sri Lanka to make steps towards an inclusive and peaceful political process. The EU believes this is the only way in which lasting peace in Sri Lanka will be achieved. It encourages all stakeholders in Sri Lanka to urgently engage in such process in a responsible way to enable progress be made in finding a lasting political solution to the concerns of all communities in Sri Lanka. The EU repeats its earlier calls for the LTTE to renounce terrorism and violence.
Contact:
- Zuzana Opletalová, Spokeswoman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
- Tel.: +420 224 182 052, GSM: +420 724 034 154, E-mail: [email protected]
Dernière mise à jour : 25.4.2009 20:06
