Peace facilitators strive to restart peace talks

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 May 2003, 02:57 GMT]
The political advisor of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam Mr.Anton Balasingham arrived Killinochchi Monday via Katunayake international airport after having discussions with Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Mr. Vidar Helgessen in Colombo Monday morning, diplomatic sources said.

Mr. Vidar Helgessen later told media persons that meeting with Mr.Balasingham was constructive and they were able to identify some of the obstacles that confront the present peace talks being taken forward. Mr.Helgessen further said talks with the parties concerned would be held next week in Colombo and Killinochchi, political sources said.

He added that he was not in a position to state whether the Tokyo Aid Summit would be held in June as scheduled, sources said.

In the meantime Japanese special peace envoy Mr.Yasushi Akashi will visit Killinochchi Wednesday to hold key talks with the LTTE leadership. Before leaving to Killinochchi, Japanese special envoy is expected to visit to Muttur and Thoppur on Tuesday at the request of Minister Rauff Hakim, Sri Lanka Muslim Congress sources said.

Meanwhile the Norwegian mediators Mr. Erik Solheim and Vidar Helgessen and Japanese peace special envoy Mr.Yasushi Akashi met the Prime Minister Mr.Ranil Wickremasinghe Sunday night and held extensive discussions to find ways to resume presently stalled peace talks. Ministers Milinda Morogoda, Mr. G.L.Peiris and Minister Mr.Rauff Hakim were also present at the discussion, political sources said.