Conditions not conducive for Germany to work with Sri Lanka

Germany said it has virtually wahsed its hands off solving the Sri Lankan ethnic conflict since its voice and advice has been ignored by the government.

German Ambassador Jürgen Weerth, addressing a forum organised by the Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry Sri Lanka (FCCISL), “A country should have a give-and-take policy when ruling. Each community should be given preference, instead of supporting one community,”

“We have two disagreements with the incumbent government. The first is, we cannot believe in a military solution for a political problem. Secondly, we do not compromise in the field of human rights,” the Ambassador added.

Weerth further said that Sri Lanka should establish the rule of law and eliminate human rights violations in the country.

Linking trade increases, foreign investments and development aid with human rights and the war, the ambassador said the current conditions in Sri Lanka are not conducive for Germany, and a majority of the ‘international community,’ to work with Sri Lanka.

“The moment you offer an inclusive solution to your people, then we will be prepared to again work with every Sri Lankan. This view is shared by a majority of the international community,” he said.

Germany is generally seen as most vocal, out of all the EU countries, on matters relating to Human Rights in Sri Lanka.

Earlier this, in February, German Economic Cooperation and Development Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul also said Unless Sri Lanka’s hardline government abandons its militarist path, the EU should impose sanctions .

At the time she also announced that Germany would freeze new development cooperation projects with Sri Lanka and, because of the deteriorating security situation, was withdrawing half their development personnel from the island as well as closing the German Development Bank in Sri Lanka.

The German Ambassador also accepted that double standards applied when dealing with different countries, based on the importance of the country.

“Yes, we apply double standards. It has to do with the role Sri Lanka is playing, or the role of Russia or the role of China. If Sri Lanka were to disappear from our economic map it can be easily replaced. If Russia were to disappear from our economic map, the lights would go out in Germany, because we get electricity from Russia. So your position is not so strong,” Weerth added.

He further said that at present German development aid is channeled to countries that make the grade in terms of the German yardstick.

“We, Germans have decided to concentrate our support on those countries whose governments and political, corporate and community leaders are clearly focussed on their country’s welfare and building a better future for all citizens,”

The Ambassador pointed out that even foreign investment inflows in to Sri Lanka were discouraged by security concerns, corruption and poor infrastructure.

Commenting on the GSP+ extension for Sri Lanka, the ambassador dropped the human rights stand and repeated the standard statement from the European Commission.

“The GSP+ is not a political tool, it is a technical operation. The government needs to ratify and implement 27 international conventions,” he said.

It is generally believed that the EU will not hold Sri Lanka’s human rights record against its decision to renew the GSP +.

In May the EU Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Julian Wilson said “The EU wants Sri Lanka to receive GSP+ again for the coming three years”

Interestingly the German Ambassador praised the Sri Lankan constitution which by favouring the Sinhala majority and clipping any real power or devolution to minority has been the root cause of the ethnic conflict.

“Sri Lanka’s Constitution should be applauded. It has covered all the major and minor sections – but those rules have not been implemented. Sri Lanka is one of those democracies that the international community has great respect for, but today we see that it has failed to meet those expectations,” he added.

Tamil analysts pointed out the comments by the Ambassador shows a lack of understanding of the root cause of the Tamil national question and the ethnic conflict.