The meeting took place as a follow up to the bilateral talks between President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Iranian President, Dr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad on the previous day (28 April 2008) at the Presidential Secretariat.
As a practical measure of strengthening bilateral relations into a comprehensive relationship, both Foreign Ministers agreed to establish a Political Committee between the two Foreign Ministries, chaired by the respective Deputy Ministers, to oversee the implementation of all bilateral agreements, including the speedy and smooth execution of the Sapugaskanda oil refinery expansion project and the Uma Oya multi-purpose development project, as well as the supervision of the work of the Joint Economic Commission. It was agreed that this Committee would meet twice yearly.
The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister emphasized the need for greater economic co-operation and highlighted the importance of the private sectors of both countries to expand their bilateral trade and investment. Iranian investors could take advantage of Sri Lanka’s Free Trade Agreements with India and Pakistan, by setting up their enterprises in Sri Lanka, which would enable them to get preferential or duty free access for their products to these two important markets in the sub-continent. Similarly, Sri Lanka also enjoys preferential market access to the EU under the GSP + scheme.
In order to provide greater visibility to the expanding relationship with Iran, which has reached a high point with the visit of President Ahmadinejad, the first ever visit by an Iranian Head of State to Sri Lanka, Minister Bogollagama suggested that there should be enhanced co-operation in the fields of education, tourism and culture, for example initiating youth exchange programmes and promoting tourism between the two countries. In this context, the Minister stated that Sri Lanka is pleased that tourists from Iran have already started visiting Sri Lanka, and that he hoped that more Iranians will visit Sri Lanka, which would foster greater people to people contact.
The Minister briefed the Iranian Foreign Minister on current political developments in Sri Lanka, including the restoration civil administration and democracy to the Eastern Province, following the clearing of the province of the LTTE last year, as well as the ongoing negotiations within the framework of the All Party Representative Committee (APRC) to reach a durable political settlement to the conflict. Minister Bogollagama conveyed his appreciation for the strong support that President Ahmadinejad had expressed for Sri Lanka’s sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity and noted the steadfast position of both countries in condemning terrorism in all its forms and manifestations and the need for effective international cooperation to eliminate this global menace.
Both sides agreed on the urgent need to revitalize the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) as an authentic voice of the developing world, in articulating issues of concern, including the denunciation of terrorism and effective and tangible measures to combat terrorism, and the right of developing countries to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes within the framework of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The Iranian Foreign Minister invited Minister Bogollagama to attend the NAM Ministerial meeting in Tehran to be held on 29 – 30 July this year.
The Sri Lankan Foreign Minister briefed his counterpart on arrangements being made to host the 15th SAARC Summit in Colombo from 2nd to 3rd August this year, which coincides with the golden jubilee of Sri Lanka’s independence. Sri Lanka is looking forward to Iran’s participation as an Observer at this Summit for the first time and he invited Foreign Minister Mottaki to attend this meeting, which he gladly accepted.
Both Foreign Ministers also discussed a range of regional and international issues of common interest, and were assisted at the talks by senior officials of the two countries.
- Sri Lanka Guardian
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