2009   2008   2007   2006   2005   2004   2003

GoSL and LTTE should recommence negotiations soon"

In a meeting with the LTTE delegation led by Mr. Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing, the Norwegian Foreign Minister called upon the parties to the CFA to respect the yearning of all the people and the democratic mandate for peace and initiate recommencement of talks soon.

Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and Mr. Tamilselvan

"Conflict situation in many other locations demand priority and we are afraid that the Sri Lankan peace process may be pushed to the backyard, hence both the parties should act with circumspection and retain the already given support without being diverted elsewhere", continued the Minister.

In response to the Minister's request for a detailed presentation of the LTTE's current estimation of the feasibilities in restarting the stalled peace process, the general political situation with special reference to acts of violence and killings, Mr. Tamilselvan had this to say:

Norwegian Foreign Minister with Mr. Erik Solheim and Mr. Hans Brattskar

"The LTTE remains fully committed to the peace process and final resolution of the conflict through negotiated means. This commitment is amply demonstrated by the present exercise of familiarising the international community in many European locations on the urgent need to reactivate the peace process, commencing from meaningful discussions on the ISGA proposals. These proposals are intended to address urgent humanitarian needs of a people affected by a quarter-century of war. This has been wrongly interpreted in the South by elements that have different agendas.

LTTE delegation led by Mr.Tamilselvan

We have, in our meetings with the various European officials reiterated the necessity to reactivate the peace process and indicated the responsibility of the international community to bring home to the government of Sri Lanka the golden opportunity to take onboard the support of the opposition parties. For the fist time in the history of the island, the main opposition party the UNF, the TNA and CWC have volunteered to offer unconditional support to the government. If the government is genuine and sincere in its commitments to the peace process, it must sing parochial political considerations and act wisely in the national interest.

Various armed groups have become active in the Northeast where they have been prohibited by the CFA since the formation of the new government and these are the elements responsible for the violence and confusion taking place in the military occupied areas. We have offered our cooperation to the SLMM in proper investigations to bring these culprits to book. The government and the military should cooperate with the SLMM so that criminals can be apprehended rather than apportioning the blame on the LTTE."

Separate meetings were held with the special envoy Mr.Erik Solheim and Norwegian Foreign Ministry's state secretary for international development Mr. Olav Kjorven, Mr. Erik Solheim expressed his concern borne out of interaction with the international community in its keen interest to resolve this stalemate situation.

20 October 2004

Print this

Email this