Sri Lanka to be discussed

18 July 2011 07:30 am Views - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}} 14 Bookmark

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Senior Indian officials have claimed that United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's first ever trip to Chennai will be a strictly non-governmental visit with no discussion on Sri Lanka.

But a senior official in the Barack Obama administration, who will accompany Clinton, has said that Sri Lanka would definitely figure in the discussions between the secretary of state and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa when they meet for the first time.

In an exclusive interview with rediff.com, the Obama administration's point man for South Asia Assistant Secretary of State Robert Blake, an erstwhile US Ambassador to Sri Lanka from 2006 to 2009, said, "Obviously, the 60 million people who live in Tamil Nadu have a lot of concerns about the situation in Sri Lanka," and that he was sure that this will "be a section of the discussion when the secretary meets the chief minister".

Earlier, senior Indian embassy officials, while briefing journalists in Washington on the upcoming US-India Strategic Dialogue and Clinton's maiden visit to Chennai, said, she would not discuss any foreign policy issues, specifically Sri Lanka, during her visit to Chennai.

Sri Lanka is under tremendous US pressure to allow for an investigation led by the United States in alleged war crimes during the final months of the conflict with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam. (Rediff.com)

Comments - 14

Bumba Monday, 18 July 2011 08:19 AM

Wait for comments from the so called "patriots" or "parrots". .

52 50

Ramana Monday, 18 July 2011 08:34 AM

And our guys are thinking that by winning elections in North will save their skin.

39 54

miliband Monday, 18 July 2011 10:51 AM

When the US cannot hold the head, trying to catch the tail.

22 24

Dalubanda Monday, 18 July 2011 10:55 AM

India should be concern about the unwanted guests privately visiting the kitchen to make a sour soup.

23 32

Deshan lankaputhra Monday, 18 July 2011 10:55 AM

Get lost USA & Blake.

41 27

lalith Monday, 18 July 2011 02:59 PM

Talk is cheap but US wont do anything for fear of Sri lanka turning into Cuba.

3 1

Gayan Monday, 18 July 2011 03:25 PM

When women gettogether they usually gossip about irrelevent things.

2 2

NN Monday, 18 July 2011 03:31 PM

Women .. women talk

1 1

freehit Monday, 18 July 2011 05:00 PM

Hillary, while you are talking shop in India, your hubby may be getting naughty and murmuring sweet nothings to Monica. You had better hurry back home.

3 1

freehit Monday, 18 July 2011 05:16 PM

For some people like you, Bumba, patriotism is anathema, and consider a patriot as (more or less), a pariah.

3 2

We Sri Lankan Monday, 18 July 2011 05:46 PM

You seems to be insane...without knowing what is happening around you...In the name of Sri Lankans be a smart guy I say.

1 3

We Sri Lankan Monday, 18 July 2011 05:47 PM

Yap the tail is small and the head is big always....You are correct.

0 1

Jane Warrant Tuesday, 19 July 2011 01:55 AM

Be careful how you address the customer. All Lankan things go to US, UK, EU.

Things are bought from China and very things are sold to them.

3 1

lj Tuesday, 19 July 2011 02:06 AM

Beggars can't tell their benefactors to get lost..... You must be an uneducated person to tell the US to get lost.

2 5

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