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Doors Still Open for Talks with LTTE
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga said Thursday that doors are still open for talks with the separatist Tamil Tiger rebels but the rebels should engage with the government in finding a substantive political solution to the long-running ethnic conflict in the country.
Addressing the ceremonial opening of the 11th Parliament, Kumaratunga said that there is still room for the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to enter the democratic process and that the Tiger rebels must agree to the sharing of power in a united country.
She said that LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran had set some conditions in his talks with Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim recently before the peace negotiations with the government could begin. Once the government is informed of the final conditions laid down by the LTTE she would discuss the matter with all political parties.
The president emphasized that the military campaign against the Tiger rebels would not be disregarded until all parties involved in the peace process reach a consensus on negotiations with the LTTE.
"What the LTTE should discuss with us, should be clear and definite political issues," she said, adding "The government will press ahead with military action against terrorism until such time."
Norwegian envoy Solheim said after his recent talks with Tiger rebel leader Prabhakaran that the LTTE has not given any preconditions for talks with the government but the LTTE London office issued a contradictory statement demanding an immediate ceasefire, government troop withdrawal in the north and the lifting of economic embargo in the area.
Kumaratunga also said that the government has not changed its policy to seek a solution for minority Tamil people by devolving greater autonomy to them.
The president defended her proposed draft constitution which the previous parliament failed to adopt in August this year. The draft constitution was aimed at ending the 17-year ethnic war between government forces and LTTE rebels by granting more autonomy to Tamils in the north and east of the island country.
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