Helgessen on shuttle diplomacy to end talks impasse

[TamilNet, Saturday, 17 May 2003, 12:46 GMT]
Norwegian delegation led by deputy foreign minister Mr. Vidar Helgessen held about two hour talks with the leadership of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) Saturday afternoon at Killinochchi peace secretariat. He briefed the LTTE leaders on the outcome of the talks he had with the government peace negotiators about the requests by the LTTE leader Mr.V.Pirapaharan made during the discussion with the Norwegian foreign minister Mr.Jan Petersen, Vanni sources said.

The Norwegian delegation arrived Killinochchi Saturday morning around eleven and the talks with the LTTE leaders commenced around 11.30 a.m and concluded at about 1.30 p.m., sources said. Mr. Helgessen was accompanied by Mr. Hans Brattskar, Norwegian Ambassador to Sri Lanka and Mr. Tomas Strangland, Second Secretary.

LTTE political head Mr.S.P.Thamilselvan, Mr.Pulithevan of Killinochchi Peace Secretariat and Mr George participated in the discussion on behalf of the LTTE, sources said.

The leader of the Norwegian delegation Mr. Vidar Helgessen told the media persons before leaving to Colombo that he would return to Killinochchi again after holding discussions with the government peace negotiators on the outcome of the talks with the LTTE leadership, Vanni sources said.

Norwegian delegation told the media persons in Killinochchi that "we are trying our best to remove all obstacles that hinder the resumption of the peace talks between the GOSL and the LTTE."

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