Fri, 2013-01-18
04:36 — admin
Daya Gamage -
US National Correspondent Asian Tribune
Washington,
D.C. 17 January (Asiantribune.com):
Apart from the comments by U.S. State Department spokesperson Victoria
Nuland on the third consecutive day Wednesday, 16 January responding to Sri
Lanka's removal of her chief justice, the State Department official web portal
on its lead page gave an unusual highlight to Sri Lanka which it never gave
before: 'US Aid to Sri Lanka'.
The State Department web site, in its lead news item, gave the link to
what Ms. Nuland said on that day to the foreign and domestic media at the daily
media briefing in Washington.
When asked if the removal of the chief justice would affect United
States assistance to Sri Lanka the spokesperson Nuland said "We did look
into the assistance situation".
This was highlighted as the main news story in the official web portal
making attack on the Syrian university, situation in Male and other issues
closer to American public diplomacy secondary.
The Wednesday media briefing at the State Department discussed vital
issues such as Indo-Pakistan internal squabbles, internal situation in Pakistan,
situation in Egypt, Israel-Palestinian issue etc., but the State Department
official web site posted 'US aid to Sri Lanka issue' as its main story.
The question is: Is the United States giving a message to Sri Lanka? Or
a 'trial balloon' ?
Spokesperson Victoria Nuland, also holding the position of assistant
under secretary of public affairs and public diplomacy, declared at the
Washington media briefing when asked if the department "received any
response from the Sri Lankan Government explaining why did it take such a
measure", said "We are obviously in contact with them. I would not
say that the explanations are satisfactory in terms of protecting
democracy".
Three straight days the State Department has been raising issues
connected to rule of law, independence of the judiciary, governance, democratic
norms in response to the impeachment and the removal of Sri Lanka's chief
justice.
At the news briefing Ms. Nuland erroneously said 'billions' instead of
'millions' attached to the aid figure.
Ms. Nuland handles overseas public affairs, public diplomacy and
strategic communication for the Secretary of State and the Obama
administration.
Here is the complete text of Wednesday, 16 January media briefing on the issue
of the removal of the chief justice, aid to Sri Lanka and 'unsatisfactory
explanation' according to the spokesperson.
Question: The chief justice issue, do you have anything to add
to it? The new chief justice has taken over. And following from yesterday’s
question, would it have any impact on the U.S. aid to Sri Lanka?
M.S.Nuland: We talked about the successor yesterday. We did look
into the assistance situation. Just for your records, U.S. Government
assistance for FY2012 for Sri Lanka was $27 million. This included 13.3 million
in bilateral assistance programs which primarily related to peace and security,
human rights, economic growth, and democracy programs. We have a 2013 request
for 16.5 billion for Sri Lanka in the same – million, million, what did I say?
Question: Billion.
M.S.Nuland: Million. In bilateral assistance for Sri Lanka.
Frankly, Lalit, I will say that it is too soon to say what impact the actions
will have on our foreign assistance for Sri Lanka going forward.
Question: And have you received any response from the Sri
Lankan Government explaining why did it take such a measure?
M.S.Nuland: We are obviously in contact with them. I would not
say that the explanations are satisfactory in terms of protecting democracy.
Question: Just so we’re clear, when you say the actions, you
mean specifically the impeachment of the chief justice?
M.S.Nuland: Correct, correct.
Question: Thank you.
- Asian Tribune -
