EU-Troika visit to Kilinochchi
"WE have come here on an important mission" said H.E. Ms. Susan Balnkahart, the Netherlands Ambassador to Sri Lanka and the Head of the EU in Sri Lanka by virtue of the Netherlands currently holding the EU presidency. In a meeting with Mr. S. P. Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing at Kilinochchi today 16th August 2004. The EU, Troika mission consisted of the current presidency of the EU, the incoming presidency represented by British High Commissioner H.E. Mr. Stephen Evans and the European Commission represented by Charge d' Affairs Mr. Wouter Wilton.
 Summarizing the EU's wishes in the context of the peace process she said that the EU urges the LTTE and the GoSL to put the interest and the wishes of the people for a permanent peace settlement first by returning to the negotiating table along with a strict adherence to the terms of the CFA. She continued to reiterate that the peace process and the development process are mutually reinforcing and interlinked and therefore for development to take place the peace process should recommence. Presenting an over view of the current political situation Mr. Tamilselvan said that the LTTE has already declared its readiness to recommence negotiations on the basis of discussions on the ISGA proposals. Elaborating further Mr. Tamilselvan said that it is the moral responsibility of everybody including the LTTE that the Tamil people's wish in the form of an overwhelming electorate mandate be respected and talks recommenced without any further delay. The owners, the Political Head emphasized with the government to prioritize the humanitarian angle in the ISGA and institutionalize same to effectively carry out the urgent humanitarian needs of the people and thereby win the confidence of the people towards the peace process. Mr. Tamilselvan also expressed his fears over the sense of frustration and disappointment in the minds of the Tamil people which he said will not be conducive to the success of the peace process.
16 August 2004
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Europe which has a total population of 800 million is made up of 45 language based nation states. South Asia which has a total population of one billion, (1000 million) is comprised of four states. Who is preventing and therefore benefiting by limiting new nation-states in South Asia?
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