Sri Lanka Accountability Project Focuses on Ensuring Reconciliation and Accountability - EU Member States
Geneva - 09 10 2024
"The Sri Lanka accountability project focuses on ensuring that reconciliation and accountability are fulfilled and can thus create a strong foundation for a peaceful and just society that can thrive in the long term. In this sense, we welcome the renewal of the project as proposed by the resolution at hand," said Belgiums's Representative on behalf of the EU Member States at the 57th Session of the Human Rights Council in Geneva.
"We recognize that many stakeholders are disappointed by the short and technical text and we understand that many would have liked to see a renewal by more than one year. However, we also see the need to engage with the new government of Sri Lanka on how the project can best support them and vice versa. The EU stands ready to support Sri Lanka on this path," EU Member States stated.
They hoped the resolution to be adopted by consensus. "But should the vote be called, the EU Member States will vote yes and urge others to do the same," they said.
Full Statement delivered by Mr. Christophe Payot, Belgium Representative, on behalf of the EU Member States, during consideration of the draft resolution A/HRC/57/L.1 on 9th October 2024:
On behalf of the EU Member States that are members of the Human Rights Council, this general comment has been agreed by the EU as a whole.
The EU congratulates Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his election inauguration as President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
We look forward to working with President Disanayake and continuing the EU support to Sri Lanka's reforms to bring the country to economic recovery, lasting reconciliation and inclusive prosperity and growth.
The people of Sri Lanka demonstrated once again their commitment to democracy with the high voter turnout at the presidential elections held on the 21st of September.
Elections took place in a peaceful manner and in a competitive political environment.
The challenges that lay ahead are manifold.
It can only be addressed successfully by a united reconciled country where all Sri Lankans regardless of ethnicity, religion and belief or political affiliation live together in peace and mutual respect and where civil society has its place within the public discourse.
The Sri Lanka accountability project focuses on ensuring that reconciliation and accountability are fulfilled and can thus create a strong foundation for a peaceful and just society that can thrive in the long term.
In this sense, we welcome the renewal of the project as proposed by the resolution at hand.
We recognize that many stakeholders are disappointed by the short and technical text and we understand that many would have liked to see a renewal by more than one year.
However, we also see the need to engage with the new government of Sri Lanka on how the project can best support them and vice versa.
The EU stands ready to support Sri Lanka on this path.
We hope this resolution will be adopted by consensus but should the vote be called, the EU Member States that are member of this council will vote yes and urge others to do the same.
Thank you, Mr. President.
They hoped the resolution to be adopted by consensus. "But should the vote be called, the EU Member States will vote yes and urge others to do the same," they said.
Full Statement delivered by Mr. Christophe Payot, Belgium Representative, on behalf of the EU Member States, during consideration of the draft resolution A/HRC/57/L.1 on 9th October 2024:
On behalf of the EU Member States that are members of the Human Rights Council, this general comment has been agreed by the EU as a whole.
The EU congratulates Anura Kumara Disanayake upon his election inauguration as President of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka.
We look forward to working with President Disanayake and continuing the EU support to Sri Lanka's reforms to bring the country to economic recovery, lasting reconciliation and inclusive prosperity and growth.
The people of Sri Lanka demonstrated once again their commitment to democracy with the high voter turnout at the presidential elections held on the 21st of September.
Elections took place in a peaceful manner and in a competitive political environment.
The challenges that lay ahead are manifold.
It can only be addressed successfully by a united reconciled country where all Sri Lankans regardless of ethnicity, religion and belief or political affiliation live together in peace and mutual respect and where civil society has its place within the public discourse.
The Sri Lanka accountability project focuses on ensuring that reconciliation and accountability are fulfilled and can thus create a strong foundation for a peaceful and just society that can thrive in the long term.
In this sense, we welcome the renewal of the project as proposed by the resolution at hand.
We recognize that many stakeholders are disappointed by the short and technical text and we understand that many would have liked to see a renewal by more than one year.
However, we also see the need to engage with the new government of Sri Lanka on how the project can best support them and vice versa.
The EU stands ready to support Sri Lanka on this path.
We hope this resolution will be adopted by consensus but should the vote be called, the EU Member States that are member of this council will vote yes and urge others to do the same.
Thank you, Mr. President.