Third round of peace talks open in Oslo
[TamilNet, Monday, 02 December 2002, 16:32 GMT]
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) and the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) began the third round of peace talks to end Sri Lanka's ethnic conflict at the Radisson SAS Plaza Hotel in downtown Oslo Monday afternoon.
Norwegian foreign ministry officials said that the two sides had agreed to discuss problems regarding the implementation of the ceasefire agreement, rehabilitation and economic development and the nature of the political framework for settling the conflict. The GOSL delegation began talks sans the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress, Mr. Rauff Hakeem, who had to rush back to Colombo Saturday night upon receiving news of the revolt against him in the party, the main coalition partner of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's United National Front government. However, GOSL officials said that Mr. M.I.M Mohideen, the SLMC's advisor, continues to be part of the resource team for the Colombo delegation. The LTTE negotiating team comprises Mr. Anton Balasingham, Col. V. Karuna, Mr. S.P Thamilchelvan, Mr. V. Rudrakumaran, Dr. Jay Maheswaran and Ms. Adele Balasingham.

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