Despite acrimony over the abduction of several Tamil aid workers by Army-backed paramilitaries, the Liberation Tigers will meet with the Sri Lankan government in Geneva this month for high-level Norwegian facilitated negotiations.
The announcement came hours after Norway’s International Development Minister, Mr. Erik Solheim, met with the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and Political Strategist, Mr. Anton Balasingham in London Monday.
Whilst both sides had two weeks ago ended a bitter standoff over the venue – Colombo insisting on an Asian location and the LTTE seeking talks in Oslo – by agreeing to Geneva, the abductions of several aid workers of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) by suspected Army-backed paramilitaries had cast doubts if the talks would proceed.
On Monday, formally announcing the protagonists’ decision to proceed, Norway’s Foreign Ministry said: “the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have asked Norway to facilitate talks in Geneva from 22 to 23 February.”
This is the first time in three years that the parties meet face-to-face at such a high level.
But political issues are not on the agenda. Instead the talks will focus on four year ceasefire that has been strained almost to breaking point by a shadow war between Sri Lankan military intelligence and the LTTE.
A recent increase in violence has put the truce under particular strain. Since December at least 150 people have been killed, including 81 soldiers, sailors and police. Several civilians and some paramilitary and LTTE cadres have also died.
Aptly, the crucial talks this month come on the very anniversary of the signing of the truce agreement. “The parties will discuss how they can improve the implementation of the ceasefire agreement that was signed on 22 February 2002,” the Norwegian statement said.
Mr. Solheim, who is also Oslo’s Special Envoy to Sri Lanka, told reporters after the announcement the February talks are a significant step towards the restoration of the peace process.
"It is very positive that the parties have agreed to meet at a high level to discuss how to improve the serious security situation," Solheim said.
"The parties are taking a small but very significant step towards putting the peace process back on a positive track. And we expect the negotiations to be tough," underlined Mr. Solheim.
He said Norway would do its best to help the parties find a practical solution to relieve the pressure the cease-fire has come under.
Putting the dispute over the venue behind him, Mr. Solheim added: “The parties have chosen Geneva for their meeting because of the very supportive role Switzerland has always played in the peace process.”
Switzerland meanwhile said it “welcomes this decision and will do its utmost to ensure that the talks take place in an environment that is conducive to reaching a mutually acceptable solution.”
Referring obliquely to the tensions over the aid workers’ abductions, an official statement added: “In view of the events of the last few days, Switzerland calls on the parties to the conflict to do all within their powers to ensure that the talks can start in a constructive atmosphere.”
Mr. Solheim will lead the Norwegian delegation, which includes Norway’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Hans Brattskar and Mr. Vidar Helgesen, formerly a senior member of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Mr. Helgesen oversaw six rounds of negotiations between the LTTE and the then Sri Lankan government from September 2002 to March 2003.
The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), retired Norwegian General Harrup Haukland, will also be present at the talks. The Nordic staffed SLMM is tasked with overseeing the truce in the Northeast.
Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse had, during his election campaigns late last year, vowed to redraft the ceasefire. However the LTTE are resolutely opposed to changes in the agreement saying it is the implementation of the agreement, not its contents, that is problematic.
"The LTTE is not prepared to discuss modifications to the cease-fire or to push the cease-fire aside and waste time talking about a political solution," the Tigers reiterated in the latest editorial of their official organ ''Vuduthalaippulikal''.
Nonetheless, government officials are now taking a crash course in negotiating tactics and “the core issues of the island''s peace process” to prepare for talks, Reuters reported.
"We are going to have discussions with some experts about the issues to prepare for the talks," said government spokesman and Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, who will lead the government delegation at the talks said.
"The foundation for peace talks and the political solution has already been laid by the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka. That foundation is the cease-fire agreement (CFA).
"The CFA was debated over a long period, modified by both parties, and eventually signed by both parties. It is only by implementing it properly the moves can be made towards the political solution," the ''Vuduthalaippulikal'' said.
The Tigers also repeated a warning that they would resume their struggle unless the government stopped backing paramilitary groups.
Sri Lanka’s North and East were calm on Tuesday despite tensions inflamed last week by the abductions of TRO aid workers, but many are uncertain.
"Today our lives are filled with lots of questions," 50-year-old teacher Francis Xavier, who works at a school in the northern Army-held enclave of Jaffna, told Reuters.
“If the first round ends well, then we have some hopes.”
The announcement came hours after Norway’s International Development Minister, Mr. Erik Solheim, met with the LTTE’s Chief Negotiator and Political Strategist, Mr. Anton Balasingham in London Monday.
Whilst both sides had two weeks ago ended a bitter standoff over the venue – Colombo insisting on an Asian location and the LTTE seeking talks in Oslo – by agreeing to Geneva, the abductions of several aid workers of the Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation (TRO) by suspected Army-backed paramilitaries had cast doubts if the talks would proceed.
On Monday, formally announcing the protagonists’ decision to proceed, Norway’s Foreign Ministry said: “the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have asked Norway to facilitate talks in Geneva from 22 to 23 February.”
This is the first time in three years that the parties meet face-to-face at such a high level.
But political issues are not on the agenda. Instead the talks will focus on four year ceasefire that has been strained almost to breaking point by a shadow war between Sri Lankan military intelligence and the LTTE.
A recent increase in violence has put the truce under particular strain. Since December at least 150 people have been killed, including 81 soldiers, sailors and police. Several civilians and some paramilitary and LTTE cadres have also died.
Aptly, the crucial talks this month come on the very anniversary of the signing of the truce agreement. “The parties will discuss how they can improve the implementation of the ceasefire agreement that was signed on 22 February 2002,” the Norwegian statement said.
Mr. Solheim, who is also Oslo’s Special Envoy to Sri Lanka, told reporters after the announcement the February talks are a significant step towards the restoration of the peace process.
"It is very positive that the parties have agreed to meet at a high level to discuss how to improve the serious security situation," Solheim said.
"The parties are taking a small but very significant step towards putting the peace process back on a positive track. And we expect the negotiations to be tough," underlined Mr. Solheim.
He said Norway would do its best to help the parties find a practical solution to relieve the pressure the cease-fire has come under.
Putting the dispute over the venue behind him, Mr. Solheim added: “The parties have chosen Geneva for their meeting because of the very supportive role Switzerland has always played in the peace process.”
Switzerland meanwhile said it “welcomes this decision and will do its utmost to ensure that the talks take place in an environment that is conducive to reaching a mutually acceptable solution.”
Referring obliquely to the tensions over the aid workers’ abductions, an official statement added: “In view of the events of the last few days, Switzerland calls on the parties to the conflict to do all within their powers to ensure that the talks can start in a constructive atmosphere.”
Mr. Solheim will lead the Norwegian delegation, which includes Norway’s Ambassador to Sri Lanka, Mr. Hans Brattskar and Mr. Vidar Helgesen, formerly a senior member of the Norwegian Foreign Ministry. Mr. Helgesen oversaw six rounds of negotiations between the LTTE and the then Sri Lankan government from September 2002 to March 2003.
The head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), retired Norwegian General Harrup Haukland, will also be present at the talks. The Nordic staffed SLMM is tasked with overseeing the truce in the Northeast.
Sri Lanka’s newly elected President Mahinda Rajapakse had, during his election campaigns late last year, vowed to redraft the ceasefire. However the LTTE are resolutely opposed to changes in the agreement saying it is the implementation of the agreement, not its contents, that is problematic.
"The LTTE is not prepared to discuss modifications to the cease-fire or to push the cease-fire aside and waste time talking about a political solution," the Tigers reiterated in the latest editorial of their official organ ''Vuduthalaippulikal''.
Nonetheless, government officials are now taking a crash course in negotiating tactics and “the core issues of the island''s peace process” to prepare for talks, Reuters reported.
"We are going to have discussions with some experts about the issues to prepare for the talks," said government spokesman and Health Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, who will lead the government delegation at the talks said.
"The foundation for peace talks and the political solution has already been laid by the LTTE and the government of Sri Lanka. That foundation is the cease-fire agreement (CFA).
"The CFA was debated over a long period, modified by both parties, and eventually signed by both parties. It is only by implementing it properly the moves can be made towards the political solution," the ''Vuduthalaippulikal'' said.
The Tigers also repeated a warning that they would resume their struggle unless the government stopped backing paramilitary groups.
Sri Lanka’s North and East were calm on Tuesday despite tensions inflamed last week by the abductions of TRO aid workers, but many are uncertain.
"Today our lives are filled with lots of questions," 50-year-old teacher Francis Xavier, who works at a school in the northern Army-held enclave of Jaffna, told Reuters.
“If the first round ends well, then we have some hopes.”
