2nd Lead (Adds photos)

No new message from Sri Lanka President - Balasingham

[TamilNet, Thursday, 11 November 2004, 08:57 GMT]
"President Kumaratunga has sent no new message through the Norwegian Foreign Minister. She has only reiterated her stand that there should be talks on a permanent political solution. We have conveyed a message to her on how to take the peace process forward. But the Norwegians have requested us not to speak about it to the press until they discuss it with the Sri Lankan President", said Mr. Anton Balasingham, political advisor of the Liberation Tigers speaking to journalists Thursday in Kilinochchi after the meeting between the leader of the LTTE and Norway’s Foreign Minister.

"The Tamil people have been talking about a permanent settlement, about federalism for fifty years. We can go on talking. But the urgent humanitarian needs of our people have to be addressed soon. Once the talks begin they can bring their ideas to the negotiating table. Hence we had a long discussion with the Norwegians about how to restart the talks early”, Mr. Balasingham said.

LTTE's Political Head, Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan was associated with him at the press meet at LTTE’s Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi Thursday afternoon.