Cameron secures ‘full backing’ of EU for resolution

International,

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The British Prime Minister David Cameron says that he has secured the “full backing” of all European Union nations for the resolution against Sri Lanka co-sponsored by the UK at the United Nations Human Rights Council.


The United States and the United Kingdom in a draft resolution have endorsed an external investigation into the alleged war crimes by the Sri Lankan army towards the end of the Tamil civil war in 2008.

The move follows a recommendation by U.N. Human Rights Chief Navi Pillay for an external investigation into the matter. The report on the promotion of accountability and reconciliation in Sri Lanka was released on February 24, following her visit to Sri Lanka in August 2013.

Cameron said an independent investigation was the only way, since Sri Lanka had failed to address the issues of accountability for the past and bring about any kind of reconciliation.

Speaking to reporters at the end of European Council meet on Friday, Cameron said “I also raised the situation in Sri Lanka. As you know, this is an issue I care deeply about. I want to see reconciliation in the country, and that means properly addressing issues of the past. President Rajapaksa has failed to do this, so now we need an international, independent investigation into alleged war crimes.”

He stated that the UN human rights high commissioner has called for the invetigation, and that is what the UK co-sponsored resolution at the UN human rights council supports.

“Countries will vote on that resolution next week, and today I secured the full backing of all of the European Union for that approach,” he said at the press conference.