Declaration of the Presidency of the Council of the European Union on the Outcome of the Sri Lanka Co-Chairs’ Meeting
- On: 26.09.2008
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union welcomes the meeting of the Co-Chairs of the 2003 Tokyo Conference held on 24 September in New York in relation to the current civil war in Sri Lanka.
This meeting, which brought together representatives from the European Union, United States, Japan and Norway, has enabled a broad consensus to be reached on the assessment of the situation on the ground.
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union shares the concerns expressed by the Co-Chairs as regards human rights and the plight of civilian populations isolated by combat in the north of the country. It supports the Co-Chairs’ call to the parties involved in the conflict to respect the fundamental principles of international humanitarian law.
The Presidency of the Council of the European Union reiterates, along with the Co-Chairs, that the Sri Lankan government is obliged to ensure the protection of civilians and to meet their needs.
In this context, it underlines the essential role of humanitarian organisations and reaffirms its support for the actions of the United Nations agencies and the international organisations.
- Updated: 26.09.2008
