"Aid not tied to talks will be detrimental to peace"- Thamilchelvan

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 28 September 2004, 10:11 GMT]
"We are meeting in Geneva to discuss further matters related to our current political situation and to explore ways to take forward the currently stalled peace process," said S.P.Thamilchelvan, Leader of the Political Wing of Liberation Tigers, speaking to reporters as the LTTE delegation was leaving for Geneva, Switzerland, for a tour of European Countries.

Responding to a question by a reporter whether the delegation intends to amend the Interim Self-Governing Authority Proposals (ISGA) during the counsultatations in Geneva, Thamilchelvan said, "It was prepared by our constitutional experts, carefully reviewed by our leadership and approved by our people. It can be discussed during the talks but there is absolutely no need for changes now."

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Press briefing by Mr. S.P. Thamilchelvan (Tamil)

"We will also be talking to the officials of the European Government to clearly brign out the fact that LTTE is committed to resuming the peace talks. But the Sri Lanka Government which is plagued by internal contradictions within its alliance parties is unable to take a unified stand towards restarting the talks. Sri Lanka President's attempt to place the blame on the LTTE belies the ground situation," Thamilchelvan said. "One of our main mission is to establish this fact in the international fora," he added.

"We will also tell the European Governments that any aid not tied to progress in peace process will be detrimental to Tamil people. We believe that only when aid is denied, the Government of Sril Lanka will be forced to take forward steps in the peace process," he said.





The delegation comprising of Head of Thamileelam Police, Mr.P.Nadesan, Head of Judiciary, Mr.Para, Secretary General of LTTE Peace Secretariat, Mr.Pulithevan, and Amparai-Batticaloa Political Head Mr.Kausalyan departed from Kilinochchi Tuesday afternoon, Vanni sources said.

Mr. Thamilchelvan will be meeting SLMM chief and Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo Tuesday evening, sources in Colombo said.