Thamilchelvan meets Swedish Foreign Ministry officials

[TamilNet, Friday, 22 October 2004, 16:31 GMT]
Head of Liberation Tigers Political Wing, S.P.Thamilchelvan, met with State Secretary of Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ms. Annika Bjurner Soder, at the Ministry building Thursday, LTTE sources in Sweden said. Thamilchelvan told the Swedish official of LTTE’s firm commitment to the peace process and the Cease Fire Agreement (CFA).

The CFA has been under strain recently as LTTE has accused Sri Lanka security forces of collaborating with paramilitaries for the escalating violence in the east.

Deputy Director General for Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Department for Asia and Pacific, Ambassador Ms Eva Walder-Brundin, also participated in the discussions.

Ms. Soder expressed her Government’s dismay over the Southern political forces failing to reach a consensus on resolving the ethnic conflict, the LTTE peace secreatariat websit said. Thamilchelvan briefed Ms Soder on the current political development in the South and pointed out as positive development the unconditional support offered by the main opposition party the UNF to the peace process. Thamilchelvan expressed LTTE’s concern that Sri Lanka’s President Chandrika Kumaratunge has not used this opportunity to move the peace process forward.

Ms Soder told Thamilchelvan that, “Sweden will whole-heartedly support Norway in its facilitatory role and continue with the humanitarian delivery in the war affected NorthEast,” according to the website.