Pranab rules out direct intervention in SL crisis

Chennai, Dec 22: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee today ruled out any direct intervention from India to solve the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka.

Talking to newspersons here after inaugurating the Passport Officer's Conference here, he said India had no intention to directly intervene in the Lankan issue.

''India will not intervene directly,'' he reiterated.

Referring to the letter written by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M Karunanidhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's reply to it, Mr Mukherjee said ''so far as India's role is concerned, we have stated our position very clearly.'' ''A solution should be found within the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka and within the framework of its constitution, by addressing the legitimate aspirations of the ethnic group, especially the Tamils,'' he added.

He referred to the Norway-brokered peace initiative and said ''this has to be resolved by the parties concerned and we wish them all success''.

On the demand made by some political parties seeking a pro-active role by India in the wake of increased killing of innocent Tamils in Sri Lanka, Mr Mukherjee reiterated that a solution to the ethnic crisis should be found within the framework of Unified Sri lanka by meeting the legitimate aspirations of the Tamils. To a question on transportation of explosives from a Nagpur-based company to Sri Lankan Navy which was intercepted by the police near Melur, Mr Mukherjee said the transportation was stopped.

It was normal for authorised exporters to export explosives which could be used for various purposes, including mining.

''It was put on hold. Considering the sensitivity of the issue and in the present context-objections raised by political parties in Tamil Nadu, as it could be used against the Tamils- that was put on hold. The transportation and export of explosives was stopped,'' he added.

Reacting to reports on Sri Lankan army personnel being trained in India, Mr Pranab said, ''We are only providing training programme.

We are not providing any lethal weapons to Sri Lankan Army''.

''There is nothing new in it. In our defence institutions we provide training programme to a large number of countries. This is one of our academic strengths in defence which is well acclaimed all over the world.

Sri Lanka was also one of the recepient of these facilities as part of the continuing programme over the years, he added.

About the demand made by political parties in Tamil Nadu calling a halt to such training programmes for Lankan Army, Mr Pranab said ''we are only providing training....We are not providing any lethal weapons to them'', he asserted.

On the recent remarks made by Pakistani President Pervez Musharaff that Pakistan had never claimed Kashmir as its integral part, he said the Prime Minister had already reacted to it twice, while returning from Tokyo and in Amritsar, on December 20.

UNI

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