USA AND INDIA SHOULD DISCUSS WITH TNA BEFORE ANY ACTION!!!

US, India discuss Lankan crisis

The Sri Lankan crisis, where thousands of Tamil civilians are trapped in the LTTE’s last remaining stronghold, was the main topic at the 45-minute discussion on Monday between United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon.
This was the first high-level interaction between India and the Obama administration in Washington.

Administration sources told rediff.com that "a discussion of one regional issue, in particular, was Sri Lanka -- the importance of trying to find a way to make sure that whatever happens in the armed conflict, that there is a political settlement in the future that both the US and India can help create, and participate in."

Explaining why the Sri Lankan crisis took center-stage during the discussion on regional issues, the source said, "The Secretary is very concerned about the humanitarian crisis in Sri Lanka and there is a sense that maybe there are things we (US and India) can do together."

Sources said Mr. Menon 'was quite positive', in terms of concurrence with the concerns expressed by Ms. Clinton, although there was 'nothing specified' in terms of how this situation could be alleviated, but broadly "the idea that this is an area where we both have capabilities and interests and we'd like to be helpful."

Earlier, Mr. Menon met US Special Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard Holbrooke whom Mr. Menon had met earlier in New Delhi during the latter's recent visit to South Asia -- and had a working luncheon with him and Deputy Secretary of State James Steinberg.

Sources described the Clinton -- Menon meeting as very warm and cordial.

"The main theme for both Secretary Clinton and the Foreign Secretary Menon was the importance of a US-India partnership and the global partnership in their views focused on issues like the world economy, climate change, energy security, nonproliferation -- all of these issues that affect both our countries," the sources added."There was also a discussion of the excellent US-India counter-terrorism collaboration, particularly after the Mumbai attacks, and Secretary Clinton also thanked India for its efforts at providing assistance in Afghanistan," the sources said.

The sources said this was the first high level meeting between the two sides in Washington and it was very much 'on a broad and general level', with an reaffirmation and reiteration of each side's commitment to the envisaged US-India strategic partnership. Besides Ms. Clinton, the meeting was attended by Under Secretary Burns, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Don Camp and State Department spokesman Robert Wood who was taking notes, the source informed.

Mr. Menon was accompanied by Ambassador Ronen Sen, Deputy Chief of Mission at the embassy in Washington Arun Kumar Singh, Joint Secretary Gayathri Kumar and other External Affairs Ministry officials.

(Rediff.com)
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REQUEST FROM WTRF: ANY US/INDIAN ACTIONS IN VANNI SHD BE DISCUSSED WITH TNA/MPs BEFORE ANY DECISIONS! TAMIL'S ELECTED REPS SHD BE CONSULTED NOW!NO EVACUVATION FROM TAMIL TERRITORY! CF AND UN IMPOSED POLITICAL SOLUTION IS APPROPRIATE NOW!!!