Norwegian Foreign Minister meets Anton Balasingham in London

[TamilNet, Sunday, 13 February 2000, 10:44 GMT]
Norwegian Foreign Minister Mr. Knut Vollebaek met Mr. Anton Balasingham, the political advisor and theoretician of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in London yesterday and held talks on the possibility of Norway assisting peace talks between Sri Lanka government and the Tamil Tigers. The talks lasted for nearly two hours, the LTTE sources in London revealed.

Mr. Balasingham, when contacted by TamilNet, refused to comment about the details of the discussions but said the Minister was appraised of the LTTE's position on peace talks and negotiated political settlement.

Mr. Balasingham said that Norway's involvement as a facilitator is a positive development signifying the growing concern among the international community over escalating conflict and the predicament of the Tamil people.

Mr.Balasingham further revealed that he has been in touch with senior Norwegian Foreign Ministry officials for the last few months discussing the possibility of peace talks.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister will be visiting Sri Lanka next Wednesday to hold talks with President Kumaratunga,foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar and the Opposition leader Ranil Wickramasinghe on bringing the parties in conflict to the negotiating table.