Norwegians to meet Pirapaharan

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 16 October 2002, 12:26 GMT]
A Norwegian delegation led by Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgessen will meet the leader of the Liberation Tigers, Mr. V. Pirapaharan, in Vanni, next week, the Voice of Tigers Radio announced Wednesday, quoting Mr. Anton Balasingham, the LTTE’s chief negotiator. Mr.Balasingham arrived in Vanni Tuesday from London.

Oslo's special envoy to Sri Lanka Mr. Erik Solheim and Norway’s Ambassador in Colombo Mr. Jan Westborg will accompany Mr. Helegessen, the radio further said.

Mr. V. Pirapaharan will lead the LTTE delegation comprising Mr. Anton Balasingham, Mrs. Adele Balasingham, who functioned as Secretary to the LTTE’s negotiating team, and Mr. Thamilchelvan, head of the LTTE’s political wing.

The discussions will centre on the setting up of Joint Task Force as agreed by the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government in the first rounds of talks in Thailand and issues related High Security Zones, the radio said.