Wednesday, July 20, 2011

Hillary expresses concern over Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue-20/7/11

U.S. looking at ‘creative ideas’ to break impasse in Sri Lanka

Hillary expresses concern over Sri Lankan Tamils’ issue

PTI

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa greets U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during their meeting in Chennai on Wednesday.
PTI Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa greets U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton during their meeting in Chennai on Wednesday.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton on Wednesday voiced concern over the plight of Internally Displaced Persons in Sri Lanka and said her country was looking at some innovative and creative ideas to break the impasse over the Sri Lankan Tamils issue.

Ms. Clinton, who called on Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa at the Secretariat in Chennai, told her that U.S. was looking at some innovative and creative ideas to break the impasse and enable Sri Lankan Tamils in camps to get back to their own homes.

Ms. Jayalalithaa said though the war between the Sri Lankan army and the LTTE in the island nation was over two years ago, Sri Lankan Tamils in Jaffna area are still in camps and unable to go back to the original areas where they used to live.

While discussing the issue of Sri Lankan refugees in Tamil Nadu, Ms. Jayalalithaa told Ms.Clinton they have been provided all facilities that were available to local citizens.

Both of them discussed various social, political and economic issues of common interest, an official press release said.

The U.S. Secretary of State also congratulated Ms. Jayalalithaa on her electoral victory in the April 13 Assembly polls.

During the meeting, Ms. Jayalalithaa recalled the strong bilateral trade relations between India and the United States.

Inviting more U.S. investment in the automobile sector in Tamil Nadu, she said Tamil Nadu enjoyed pre—eminence in automotive and auto components.

Ms. Jayalalithaa also expressed concern over the reduction in the issue of H1B visas even though, in terms of number of Visas issued, the Chennai U.S. Consulate was the second largest in the world.

Ms. Clinton invited Ms. Jayalalithaa to visit the United States. The meeting lasted for an hour.


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