Shii, Sri Lankan prime minister agree on non-aligned movement, Iraq issue, nuclear weapons abolition

Japanese Communist Party Chair Shii Kazuo on December 20 held talks with Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe at the prime minister's official residence in Sri Jayawaredenapura Kotte. They discussed the Iraq question, the role of the non-aligned movement, the abolition of nuclear weapons, and Sri Lanka's national efforts to end its civil war.

On the Iraq issue, the prime minister agreed with Shii, stressing the need to peacefully solve the issue within the U.N. framework instead of resorting to military force.

On the non-aligned movement, both confirmed that the movement has an important role to play in the movement against hegemonic policies and for a peaceful, equitable and democratic international order.

Shii highly commended Sri Lanka for playing a significant role as a member of the non-aligned movement in submitting a proposal to the U.N. in which non-aligned countries call for the abolition of nuclear weapons within a certain set time frame.

Shii meets with Sri Lankan foreign minister

The JCP delegation on December 21 visited Minister of Foreign Affairs Tyronne Fernando at his official residence in Sri Jayawaredenapura Kotte.

JCP Chair Shii Kazuo pointed out that new international rules should be established in a fair and democratic way based on the U.N. Charter, and called for an end of unilateral dominance of the world in such fields as military, politics, and economics.

The foreign minister in response expressed his view that no country must be allowed to dominate the world. (end)