Akashi expresses confidence in LTTE joining aid talks

[TamilNet, Saturday, 10 May 2003, 01:16 GMT]
Efforts to resolve the technical issues relating to administering North East Reconstruction Fund and to make the Subcommittee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) more effective are underway to enable resumption of peace talks between the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), said Japanese special peace envoy Mr.Yasushi Akashi Friday in a press conference in Kilinochchi.

"These two matters are now being looked at by the Sri Lanka Government and fresh suggestions and proposals will be made in the next few days," added Mr Akashi in the press briefing before leaving after a six-day visit to Sri Lanka, sources said.

Mr. Akashi further said, "there are still deep feelings of mistrust between the government and the LTTE. These can be resolved only with time and patience. I do not believe that the government and the LTTE would be able to overcome within a short period the mistrust and misunderstanding that developed over the past two decades of war."

Mr. Akashi said although the Sri Lanka peace process has backing of the international community, the international players are watching the recent developments with concern.

Mr.Yasushi Akashi in reply to a question by a journalist expressed confidence that the LTTE would not leave the peace process and would participate in the SriLanka Aid Donors meeting scheduled to be held during the first week of June in Japan.