DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER and Foreign Minister of Vietnam, Pham Gia Khiem, remarked “ Sri Lanka’s achievement in bringing an end to terrorism was commendable, and it was time that the country took forward the reconciliation process with confidence and resolve” when Foreign Minister Bogollagama met him at Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt. He made this remarks on the sidelines of the Non-Aligned Ministerial Meeting. Assuring strong support to Sri Lanka and its reconstruction effort, the Deputy Prime Minister stated that Vietnam’s commitment was rooted in its foreign policy, which accorded priority to further expanding the existing relations between the two countries. He made these comments as Foreign Minister Bogollagama briefed him on recent developments in Sri Lanka, including the defeat of the LTTE by the Sri Lankan security forces together with the ongoing political process aimed at empowering the people. Minister Bogollagama thanked Vietnam for its support and solidarity extended to Sri Lanka in the multilateral fora as Sri Lanka intensified its campaign against terrorism in the recent past. “Now that the LTTE had been defeated in Sri Lanka and it is possible that individuals and groups associated with the LTTE may seek to operate from countries in the region, posing a threat to regional security and stability” added Bogollagama. In response, the Deputy Prime Minister said that Vietnam would never allow its territory to be used by terrorist elements since his country had always stood for peace and harmony. He looked forward to the meeting of the Vietnam-Sri Lanka Joint Commission in August this year to identify areas of bilateral cooperation and to launch a comprehensive programme of work for the futures of both countries.
Minister Bogollagama, confirmed that President Mahinda Rajapaksa would undertake a State Visit to Vietnam before the end of this year, on the invitation of the Prime Minister of Vietnam. (Courtesy : Daily Mirror)
