"Immediately, a whole range of areas of conflict confront us, in Africa, Europe and Asia. All of us are familiar with these, which range from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola and Sudan on my own continent, to the Balkans in Europe and Afghanistan, Tajikistan and Sri Lanka in Asia. Clearly, this Organisation and especially the Security Council acting together with people of goodwill in the countries and areas concerned, has a responsibility to act decisively to contribute to the termination of these destructive conflicts."
Response by Sri Lanka President Kumaratunga:
"We in Sri Lanka are particularly conscious of the capacity of terrorist groups to resort to the strategy of using front organisations for raising funds which end up in the LTTE war chest to contribute towards murdering and brutalising our people. Moral and legal sanctions against terrorists are not enough. Laws must be effectively implemented.
Only by such concerted action would we be able to ensure that terrorists are compelled to renounce violence and enter the democratic process. I would like to thank India and the United States of America in particular for having recognised and declared the LTTE to be the terrorist organisation that it is, and for encouraging my Government to settle this problem by political means. I would like to add here that this is an internal problem that Sri Lanka is fully able and ready to resolve with the full support of its peoples. We will not tolerate any outside interference whilst we appreciate all the support given us by our friends abroad in resolving the conflict."
..."The LTTE's claim to be a 'liberation organisation' is an insult to organisations such as the African National Congress and the South West African People's Organisation, which courageously struggled against minority rule, racism and oppression and, with equal courage, negotiated the creation of the democratic, non-racial States of South Africa and Namibia."
....."The LTTE's claim to be a 'liberation organisation' is negated by its unilateral resort to violence and its reluctance to put its claims to the true test - that of participating in an open, democratic and peaceful process of consultation with the people."
