The International community last week hailed the decision by the Liberation Tigers and the Sri Lankan government to agree on Geneva as the venue for urgently needed talks on stabilising the badly strained February 2002 ceasefire and heaped praise on Norway and her Special Envoy, Erik Solheim.
A flurry of welcoming statements by leading states and international organisations followed announcement by the LTTE last Wednesday that it would drop its preference for Oslo as a venue for talks – to which Sri Lanka is resolutely opposed - and accept the Norwegian proposal of Geneva instead.
India this week joined the United States, Britain, Japan, the European Union and United Nations in supporting negotiations. Many countries praised Norway’s veteran peace envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim for his success in securing both sides’ compromise.
The US, EU, Japan and Norway are the Co-chairs of Sri Lanka’s peace process, but facilitation between the LTTE and Sri Lanka is solely Norway’s responsibility.
Responding swiftly to Norway’s announcement, Switzerland said last week it “welcomes this decision, which represents an opportunity to divert a further escalation of the conflict.”
“Moreover, Switzerland acknowledges the endeavours of Norway, which have resulted in this promising outcome. Switzerland is ready to provide Norway with its utmost support and hopes that the talks can get underway as soon as possible,” the government said.
“The securing of this agreement [for talks on ceasefire] is a precondition for future peace talks, which have been suspended since April 2003,” Switzerland said.
Also welcoming the talks, the United States said “we commend Special Envoy Erik Solheim for his effort to advance this positive development and fully support Norway''s facilitation of the peace process.”
The US, continuing to single out the LTTE for criticism, added it “commends the Sri Lankan government for its restraint in the face of recent provocative attacks and fully supports its efforts as it advances towards peace.”
“We support the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. We call on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take immediate action to prevent violence and to uphold the terms of the Ceasefire Agreement,” the US said.
“As Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns said during his January 23 trip to Sri Lanka, this long conflict will end only when the LTTE and the government resume discussions, and the LTTE are convinced to stop using violence and acts of terror as political weapons,” a State Department statement said.
Welcoming the talks between the LTTE and Sri Lanka, the Indian government said “the resumption of talks augurs well for the prospects of peace in Sri Lanka."
New Delhi reiterated its long-standing view in favour of a "negotiated political settlement" that meets the just aspirations of all communities and which respects the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, an External Affairs Ministry statement said.
The EU said it “welcomes the agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to hold talks in Switzerland with a view to reinforcing the Ceasefire Agreement concluded in February 2002 and to improving its implementation.”
The EU said it “expresses its firm hope that the talks will help stabilize the situation in Sri Lanka and lead to a peaceful solution of the conflict.”
Reiterating its full support for Norway’s role as facilitator in the peace process, the EU said it “commends Minister Eric Solheim for his longstanding and untiring efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sri Lanka.”
Britain also said it “strongly appreciates and supports the efforts of Erik Solheim and his Norwegian colleagues in their important facilitation work.”
“I am very pleased that the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have agreed to meet for talks on implementing the Ceasefire Agreement,” Dr Kim Howells, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said.
“This is an important step. The Sri Lankan people want and deserve peace. Maintaining the ceasefire and ending violence are essential for all parties in Sri Lanka to create the right climate to take the country towards a lasting solution,” he said.
Japan, welcoming the agreement by both sides, also commended “the role of Norway as facilitator in bringing about this important agreement.”
“The Government of Japan strongly hopes that escalating violence in the North and East will be stopped, and actual talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and LTTE will commence at an earliest possible date,” Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.
“Japan also hopes that the peace process will be reinvigorated through such talks,” the statement said. “The Government of Japan remains committed to supporting the efforts of the parties to the conflict towards achieving a lasting peace through pursuing the negotiated settlement of the conflict.”
Welcoming the talks, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on both sides to strictly observe the ceasefire and commended renewed efforts by Norway to facilitate the resumption of discussions.
“To advance the peace process, it will be important to put an end to the escalating violence in the North and East and to strictly uphold the ceasefire. The people of Sri Lanka deserve a new hope that peace could be in reach,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
A flurry of welcoming statements by leading states and international organisations followed announcement by the LTTE last Wednesday that it would drop its preference for Oslo as a venue for talks – to which Sri Lanka is resolutely opposed - and accept the Norwegian proposal of Geneva instead.
India this week joined the United States, Britain, Japan, the European Union and United Nations in supporting negotiations. Many countries praised Norway’s veteran peace envoy, Mr. Erik Solheim for his success in securing both sides’ compromise.
The US, EU, Japan and Norway are the Co-chairs of Sri Lanka’s peace process, but facilitation between the LTTE and Sri Lanka is solely Norway’s responsibility.
Responding swiftly to Norway’s announcement, Switzerland said last week it “welcomes this decision, which represents an opportunity to divert a further escalation of the conflict.”
“Moreover, Switzerland acknowledges the endeavours of Norway, which have resulted in this promising outcome. Switzerland is ready to provide Norway with its utmost support and hopes that the talks can get underway as soon as possible,” the government said.
“The securing of this agreement [for talks on ceasefire] is a precondition for future peace talks, which have been suspended since April 2003,” Switzerland said.
Also welcoming the talks, the United States said “we commend Special Envoy Erik Solheim for his effort to advance this positive development and fully support Norway''s facilitation of the peace process.”
The US, continuing to single out the LTTE for criticism, added it “commends the Sri Lankan government for its restraint in the face of recent provocative attacks and fully supports its efforts as it advances towards peace.”
“We support the territorial integrity of Sri Lanka. We call on both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to take immediate action to prevent violence and to uphold the terms of the Ceasefire Agreement,” the US said.
“As Under Secretary for Political Affairs R. Nicholas Burns said during his January 23 trip to Sri Lanka, this long conflict will end only when the LTTE and the government resume discussions, and the LTTE are convinced to stop using violence and acts of terror as political weapons,” a State Department statement said.
Welcoming the talks between the LTTE and Sri Lanka, the Indian government said “the resumption of talks augurs well for the prospects of peace in Sri Lanka."
New Delhi reiterated its long-standing view in favour of a "negotiated political settlement" that meets the just aspirations of all communities and which respects the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka, an External Affairs Ministry statement said.
The EU said it “welcomes the agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to hold talks in Switzerland with a view to reinforcing the Ceasefire Agreement concluded in February 2002 and to improving its implementation.”
The EU said it “expresses its firm hope that the talks will help stabilize the situation in Sri Lanka and lead to a peaceful solution of the conflict.”
Reiterating its full support for Norway’s role as facilitator in the peace process, the EU said it “commends Minister Eric Solheim for his longstanding and untiring efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sri Lanka.”
Britain also said it “strongly appreciates and supports the efforts of Erik Solheim and his Norwegian colleagues in their important facilitation work.”
“I am very pleased that the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have agreed to meet for talks on implementing the Ceasefire Agreement,” Dr Kim Howells, Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, said.
“This is an important step. The Sri Lankan people want and deserve peace. Maintaining the ceasefire and ending violence are essential for all parties in Sri Lanka to create the right climate to take the country towards a lasting solution,” he said.
Japan, welcoming the agreement by both sides, also commended “the role of Norway as facilitator in bringing about this important agreement.”
“The Government of Japan strongly hopes that escalating violence in the North and East will be stopped, and actual talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and LTTE will commence at an earliest possible date,” Japan’s Foreign Ministry said.
“Japan also hopes that the peace process will be reinvigorated through such talks,” the statement said. “The Government of Japan remains committed to supporting the efforts of the parties to the conflict towards achieving a lasting peace through pursuing the negotiated settlement of the conflict.”
Welcoming the talks, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan called on both sides to strictly observe the ceasefire and commended renewed efforts by Norway to facilitate the resumption of discussions.
“To advance the peace process, it will be important to put an end to the escalating violence in the North and East and to strictly uphold the ceasefire. The people of Sri Lanka deserve a new hope that peace could be in reach,” UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
