Peace Corps to return to Sri Lanka when conditions permit
Read and comment on this story from the Department of State on the President's meeting with the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in which the president and the prime minister welcomed the intent of the U.S. Peace Corps to return to Sri Lanka as soon as conditions permit at:
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Bush Meets With Prime Minister of Sri Lanka
(White House report) (790)
BUSH MEETS WITH PRIME MINISTER OF SRI LANKA
President Bush met July 24 in the Oval Office with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe of Sri Lanka and "expressed his appreciation for Sri Lanka's strong democratic tradition," White House Press Secretary Ari Fleischer told reporters.
Bush welcomed the initiatives of the prime minister, supported by the Norwegian government, to bring the Liberation Tigers of Tamil to the negotiating table, Fleischer said.
Wickremasinghe's government signed a cease-fire in February with the Liberation Tigers, with the goal of entering peace talks to resolve 20 years of conflict over control of Sri Lanka's northeast region, which is dominated by minority Tamils.
Bush offered U.S. "support for Sri Lanka's pursuit of peace in this endeavor" and offered to help that country develop its economy, Fleischer said. The president proposed sending several teams to Sri Lanka "to assess how best we can work together in those areas."
In addition, the president and the prime minister welcomed the intent of the U.S. Peace Corps to return to Sri Lanka as soon as conditions permit, Fleischer said.
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