Sri Lanka’s support for Palestine appreciated
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- Published on Tuesday, 17 April 2012 10:55
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The Foreign Minister of Palestine Riad Nour Al Maliki held bilateral discussions with the Minister of External Affairs Professor G.L. Peiris yesterday.
Addressing a media conference after the discussions, the Palestinian Foreign Minister Riad Nour Al Maliki said that both countries have vibrant relationship for a long time and the two bilateral agreements signed yesterday further strengthened this relationship.
He said the agreements will provide opportunities for expansion of trade and economic relations, to establish a joint business council and to cover many aspects of tourism and educational sectors. He said these agreements will provide many benefits to the people of both countries.
The Palestinian Foreign Minister thanked the Government of Sri Lanka for its continuous support to the Government and the people of Palestine and said that the relations between the two countries have reached to the highest from the time President Rajapaksa assumed office. He also stated that there is much potential between the two countries, particularly in the fields of trade, investment, economic and tourism, for further cooperation and that the signing of the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion and the Protocol on Political Consultation between the two countries during the current State Visit would further strengthen the existing friendly relations between the two countries.
He said that Sri Lanka had all along been a sincere friend and one of the few nations that had uninterruptedly supported the Palestinian cause despite conspiracies by Israel and the western nations
The Palestinian FM also stated that he was very glad to witness the remarkable economic development achieved by the Government of Sri Lanka following the defeat of terrorism two years ago and stated that he was happy to witness the stability and the economic prosperity prevailing in this country and the amicable co-existence of all sections of people of Sri Lanka.
Minister G.L. Peiris told the media conference that Sri Lanka will provide assistance and will standby Palestine at all times. He said that the visit of the Palestinian Head of State helped to exchange views on recent international experiences of both countries. The Minister said that Sri Lanka has continuously called upon the world nations to admit Palestine as a member of the United Nations and recalled President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s address at the UN General Assembly insisting for a time frame for admission of Palestine as a UN member nation.
The Minister also expressed Sri Lanka’s gratitude to the Arab world for supporting Sri Lanka at the 19th Sessions of the UN Human Rights Commission. (niz)..
