U.S. Government supports resumption of peace negotiations

[TamilNet, Monday, 03 November 2003, 10:20 GMT]
Applauding the Norwegian government for its ongoing facilitation efforts, the U.S. Embassy in Sri Lanka in a statement issued today in Colombo, said that it also believed that "it is possible for both sides to reach agreement on an interim administration which, over time, must lead into a permanent peace settlement".

The fulltext of the press release follows:

U.S. GOVERNMENT SUPPORTS RESUMPTION OF PEACE NEGOTIATIONS

Press Release
03 November 2003

The U.S. Embassy has taken note of the LTTE's delivery of counterproposals made in response to the Sri Lankan Government's interim administration proposal for the North and East. The Embassy urges both parties to build on this step by resuming negotiations in a timely manner.

With a constructive approach and willingness to compromise, we continue to believe that a negotiated solution to the conflict is possible.

We also believe that it is possible for both sides to reach agreement on an interim administration which, over time, must lead into a permanent peace settlement and governmental structure, in keeping with the principles and statements put forward in Oslo and Tokyo.

We salute the Norwegian government for its ongoing facilitation effort.