S. Lankan President Wants Core Issues in Agenda for Peace Talks

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Tuesday, May 28, 2002

S. Lankan President Wants Core Issues in Agenda for Peace Talks

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Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has told visiting Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen that all core issues relating to the war-torn northand east of the country should be included in the agenda for peace talks between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

She was quoted by official Daily News as saying on Monday that core issues were particularly relevant to the proposed interim administration for the north and east. It should not be implemented until the core issues were finalized.

Meanwhile, Helgesen has emphasized the importance to set a clear agenda for the direct peace talks expected for June in Thailand.

Helgesen told a private television station on Monday that it could be a mistake to try and rush the two sides to the negotiation table. The most important thing is to agree on an agenda for the talks, he said.

While it was important to bring the two parties to the negotiation table soon, if there was no clear agenda, it would be detrimental, he added.

He said the Norwegian mediators were most interested in the quality of the agenda rather than the actual timing.

Helgesen who was recently in London for talks with chief rebel negotiator Anton Balasingham arrived here on Saturday to meet government leaders and officials.He will leave for London to meet Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe who is on a visit to Britain.

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