Germany calls for Ceasefire between GoSL, LTTE

[TamilNet, Friday, 23 January 2009, 01:51 GMT]
German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier called Thursday for an immediately negotiated ceasefire between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam (LTTE), stating that the ceasefire should enable aid deliveries and medical care for the civilians in the disputed areas.

Steinmeier expressed concern for more than 300,000 refugees on a coastal 30-kilometer strip of land, in the area held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), DPA News Agency reported Thursday.

Steinmeier also called for the conflicting parties to urgently come to a political agreement. "The conflict won't be solved by military means alone," he said.

Government of Sri Lanka recently censured German Ambassador Jurgen Weerth after the Ambassador spoke at the funeral of slain editor of Sunday Leader.

"Today is a day when one remains speechless," Weerth said at the funeral of the popular editor who was recently assassinated. "Maybe, we should have spoken before this. Today it is too late."

"Today is a day when humanity has lost a major voice of truth. But he will live in his work."

External Links:

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Germany Calls for Aid to Refugees Caught in Sri Lankan Conflict