The United Nations says that its Expert Panel would deal with other parties in addition to the LLRC. The Panel’s work is broader than simply dealing with the LLRC, Farhan Haq Acting Deputy Spokesperson for the Secretary-Genera said at a Media Briefing in New York yesterday.


Excerpt from the press briefing:


Question:  Farhan, when the Secretary-General gave the last press conference here, he said that he was glad to announce that his Panel of Experts on Sri Lanka was going to be able to travel to Sri Lanka.  And I’ve seen now this quote of yours — maybe you can confirm it or deny — that “we can’t confirm if the Panel will travel to Sri Lanka or will meet the LLRC [Lessons Learned and Reconciliation Commission] in some other location”.  Is that… What’s the… Are they travelling there?  Isn’t that sort of what he announced?  And what led to this change?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson:  At this stage, there is nothing to announce.  We’re working on potential arrangements, so we are in touch with the Sri Lankan authorities.  The Panel, that is to say, is in touch.  I have talked to the Panel and I know that those discussions are continuing.  But at this stage we don’t have an announcement to make on this.

Question:  Aren’t they going to speak to no one else in Sri Lanka, or about the topic, other than the members of the Government’s, the Government-appointed LLRC?

Acting Deputy Spokesperson:  Like I said, I think that will become clear once we have some sort of announcement to make.  It’s clear that the Panel’s work is broader than simply dealing with the LLRC, however.