Pirapaharan, Norwegians discuss peace, Colombo crisis

[TamilNet, Thursday, 13 November 2003, 05:36 GMT]
Norwegian Deputy Minister, Mr. Vidar Helgesen, special envoy Eric Solheim, Norway’s Ambassador for Sri Lanka, Mr. Hans Brattskar met the Leader of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Mr. Velupillai Pirapaharan, for discussions about the peace process and the current political crisis in Colombo in Kilinochchi Thursday morning.

Mr. S. P Thamilchelvan, the head of the LTTE’s political division and Mr. Pulithevan, the Director of the LTTE Peace Secretariat were also present at the discussions with the Norwegian team.

The Norwegian team is led by Mr. Vidar Helgessen and comprised special peace envoy Mr. Erik Solheim, Norwegian ambassador in Colombo Mr.Jan Brattskar and embassy official Mr. Tomas Strangland, sources said. The discussions began at 10.30 a.m.

Mr. Thamilchelvan is scheduled to address a press conference at the end of the meeting between the LTTE leader and the Norwegians around noon.

The Norwegian Deputy foreign minister arrived by Sri Lanka Air Force helicopter at 9. 30 a.m. at the Kilinochchi grounds. Mr.S.Thangan, Deputy Head of the LTTE political wing and the head of the LTTE peace secretariat in Killinochchi received them, sources in Vanni said.

Mr. Helgessen and Mr. Solheim arrived in Colombo Monday night in an attempt to revive the stalled peace talks between the United National Front government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) since April this year.

This is the second time Mr. Vidar Helgessen is meeting the LTTE leader, sources said. He met Mr.Pirapaharan for the first time before signing the ceasefire agreement.

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