Swiss Government welcomes positive outcome of Geneva talks

[TamilNet, Friday, 24 February 2006, 11:33 GMT]
Welcoming the positive outcome of the talks in Geneva between the Liberation Tigers and the Government of Sri Lanka, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Government of Switzerland in a press release issued from Berne Thursday said, that it "voices the expectation that the parties to the conflict will respect the agreement they have concluded."

Full text of the release follows:

The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) welcomes the positive outcome of the talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), which took place on 22 and 23 February in Geneva. It voices the expectation that the parties to the conflict will respect the agreement they have concluded.

Under Norway's mediation, the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE met in Geneva on 22 and 23 February to hold talks on the implementation of the cease-fire agreement, which was signed exactly four years ago.

In particular, the DFA welcomes the fact that the parties have agreed to respect the cease-fire agreement, and to take all necessary measures to avoid any acts of violence, intimidation, abductions or killings.

The DFA expects the parties to comply conscientiously with the obligations they have undertaken as a building-confidence measure.

The DFA also takes note of the wish of the parties to organise a further round of talks on 19 to 21 April in Geneva. Switzerland regards this as a mark of trust and will examine the request favourably within the framework of its commitment to Sri Lanka.