LTTE calls for clear, well defined agenda for talks

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 December 2004, 12:34 GMT]
The LTTE leadership, in an official response to the fresh agenda proposed by the Sri Lanka government, has called for a clear, coherent, well defined agenda for peace talks. The Tamil Tiger leaders have also expressed their disapproval to the structure and content of the government’s agenda because of its vagueness and ambiguity.

Mr Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s theoretician and chief negotiator, conveyed his organisation’s official response to Mr Erik Solheim, Norway’s Special Envoy to Sri Lanka today. Mr Solheim presented the Sri Lanka government’s fresh agenda last week to Mr Mr Balasingham when he met him in London.

The following is the response of the LTTE leadership as conveyed by Mr Balasingham to the Norwegian Envoy:

"As the Janatha Vimukthi Perumuna (JVP) continues to declare its vehement opposition to peace talks with the LTTE based on the Interim Self-Governing Authority as proposed by our organisation, the LTTE leadership insists on a clear, coherent, well defined version of the agenda, without ambiguity and abstruseness.

"The LTTE leadership, having carefully scrutinised the current version of the agenda as presented by the Sri Lanka government, is displeased with its structure and contents. Because of the vague and inconsistent attitude articulated by President Kumaratunga on the ISGA and the violent opposition expressed by her major ally and coalition partner, the JVP, the Tamil Tiger leaders insist on a clear, comprehensive agenda, instead of revising earlier formulations, definitely specifying that the Interim Self-Governing Authority, as proposed by the LTTE, shall be the basis for peace negotiations.

"Please convey the position of the LTTE leadership to the Government of Sri Lanka."