US is assisting SL military to defeat terrorism, says new US ambassador.

"Relations between the United States and Sri Lanka are excellent. I am here to forge stronger ties between not only our two governments but between the people of our two great nations," said the new US ambassador, Robert O. Blake, at his premier press conference with the Sri Lankan media, today at the Cinnamon Grand hotel.

The ambassador told the media that the US is committed to helping Sri Lankan military to fight terrorism. Saying that terrorism is one of the great challenges the world is facing today, he added that the US is working productively on the law enforcement side as demonstrated during recent sting operation by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation that nettled 15 suspected LTTE arms traffickers just last month.

"We are among the first to declare the LTTE a foreign terrorist organization almost a decade ago," said Mr. Blake.

However, he stressed the importance of the negotiation process as a solution to the ethnic crisis. "Terrorism cannot be defeated by law enforcement and military measures alone. Sri lanka too must develop a political strategy to develop a consensus for peace," said the ambassador.

Mr. Blake said that the recent initiative by the SLFP and UNP to come together to develop a consensus is a way forward in the peace process and other areas of national importance is highly appreciated by the US government.

He also reiterated the US’s call on the LTTE to return to negotiations "We consistently have called on the LTTE to renounce terrorism and violence in word and deed and commit themselves to a negotiated settlement"

He added that his country is proud to be one of the Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donors Conference and added that his government strongly supports Norway’s facilitation mission and the important role played by the Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission.

Ambassador Blake is a career Foreign Service Officer.  He entered the Foreign Service in 1985.  He has served at the American Embassies in Tunisia, Algeria, Nigeria and Egypt.  He also has held a number of positions at the State Department in Washington.  Most recently, Ambassador Blake served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the U.S. Mission in New Delhi, India from 2003 • 2006.