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Norwegian Envoy to Return for Peace Effort in Sri Lanka
Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim will return to Sri Lanka this week to continue his peace mission in a bid to bring the government and separatist Tamil Tiger rebels to negotiating table for talks on ending the long-running ethnic war in the country, the official Daily News said on Sunday.
Solheim met with Anton Balasingham, theoretician and political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels in London last week. The LTTE rebels insisted that any talks could begin only after the government agrees to reciprocate their unilateral ceasefire.
During her meeting with Solheim, who concluded his latest mission here last Sunday, President Chandrika Kumaratunga reiterated her government's stand that talks with the Tiger rebels could be held but ceasefire would be imposed only after the talks make progress.
She also indicated that there was positive response from LTTE rebels concerning possible peace talks with the government.
Diplomatic sources here said that Kumaratunga has agreed to a suggestion by the LTTE rebels that the forthcoming peace talks be held in a European city including Norway, Britain and France. The sources also said that Balasingham has conveyed to the government the decision of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran to cease all suicidal bomb attacks in the capital Colombo once peace talks start.
The LTTE rebels have announced the extension of their unilateral ceasefire for one more month till the 24th of this month but the government has not reciprocated their truce offer.
The rebels have been fighting against government forces in the north and east of the country for an independent state for minority Tamils since 1983, and more than 60,000 people have been killed in the bloody war.
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