GL delves into outer space with Russian FM

All possible efforts will be made to prevent Outer Space from becoming an arena for military confrontation

External Affairs Minister Prof. G.L. Peiris and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov signed a Joint Statement on “No First Deployment of Weapons in Outer Space” on the margins of the UNGA Sessions in New York, the External Affairs Ministry said.

The Joint Statement, while noting the significance of Outer Space activities and its role in maintaining national and global security, declare that all possible efforts will be made to prevent Outer Space from becoming an arena for military confrontation. The Statement further expresses the belief that Outer Space should be used in compliance with international law for the benefit of all nations.

Discussing key bi-lateral issues , the two Ministers agreed on the need to focus on expanding economic relations. They resolved to expedite strengthening the bi-lateral legal framework, through the early conclusion of the agreements under negotiation. Minister Peiris also thanked Russia for the ready assistance and support extended to Sri Lanka in the multilateral fora. He emphasised the need to depoliticise the Human Rights Council, and make the debates issue-based rather than country specific.

The Russian Foreign Minister acknowledged the growth in bi-lateral trade by 75% in the first six months of the year, and suggested that the two countries target to achieve a trade volume worth one billion dollars a year. Minister Lavrov also informed that Russia has reduced tariffs on Sri Lankan tea imports to Russia. He also assured that Russia would support to oppose unwarranted criticism of Sri Lanka.

Addressing the Ministerial meeting of the NonAligned Meeting (NAM) on the theme of “NAM and the Rule of Law at International level,” Minister Peiris recalled that NAM came into existence in a bi-polar world, and since, the circumstances had changed. However he observed that the basic values of NAM continued to have relevance to the contemporary world. The Minister said, in today’s multilateral context, conclusions are arrived at, even before their deliberation, leading to voting on issues becoming a political exercise, undermining the confidence in the multilateral system. He underscored the need for conclusions to be just and equitable, which has been the consistent practice

of the NAM.