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"Parties to the CFA should consolidate supportive forces and recommence negotiation early"

"The European Commission wishes to reiterate to the parties to the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA) to consolidate all supportive forces in the Sri Lankan polity and take forward the peace process in the right direction.

So that talks may recommence early in the context of delivering urgent humanitarian needs", said Mr.Herve Jouanjean, Deputy Director General European Commission in a meeting with the LTTE delegation led by Mr. S.P. Tamilselvan Head of the Political Wing today 18th October 2004 at the EU complex in Brussels Belgium.

LTTE delegation with European Commission

Expressing serious concern over the delay to recommence talks, Mr. Jouanjean continued further and said that both parties to the CFA have the solemn responsibility by their people in effecting delivery of the peace dividend. Especially to the people in the war devastated region. He continued to assure the support of the EU towards the peace process in general and with special reference to urgent humanitarian needs.

Mr. Tamilselvan in responding to the EU's concern over the activities of disruptive elements that work against the peace process, said that the LTTE is facing multi-pronged challenges in maintaining the CFA in view of the activities of several armed groups in violation of clause 1.8 of the CFA and the inability to restore normalcy, the primary peace dividend promised in the CFA. Answering a specific question of Mr. Jouanjean, Mr. Tamilselvan said that for the first time in the history of Sri Lanka, the main opposition party and other formations in the opposition have volunteered to support the government in its peace initiatives and therefore it is the responsibility of the government to take on board the forthcoming support and act with wisdom in resolving the national problem, ignoring parochial party interests.

Mr. Tamilselvan in presenting an over view of the current political situation said that the LTTE's commitment to negotiated means of settlement remains undiluted and the ISGA proposals should not be viewed with suspicion and a general fear of being the corner stone for separation, rather it is a basis to institutionalize an interim mechanism that can effectively deliver humanitarian needs, build confidence in the peoples' mind and help to enter into meaningful political negotiations which is time consuming. The ISGA proposals, Mr. Tamilselvan said, are negotiable and therefore the government should make bold moves and recommence negotiations on that basis.

Earlier in the day the LTTE delegation met with Ambassador Christian Monnoyer, Head of the Asia department Ministry of Foreign Affairs Belgium, and Desk Officer Bousmar in the Ministry complex and had a lengthy discussion on current political situation with special attention to humanitarian needs in the war affected region. The Ambassador assured the delegation that the ministry is very keen in encouraging the parties, the government and the LTTE, to restart the talks without further delay, bearing in mind the gravity of the problems people face in a post-war situation.

18 October 2004

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