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Lanka, LTTE may begin talks soon in London

P Mohan Das in Colombo

There is every possibility of Norwegian-facilitated direct talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam beginning in the next couple of weeks in London.

Diplomatic sources said the Norwegians have the support of Britain, United States and India for the attempt to bring the two warring parties together.

Speculation about hurried talks was rife after LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's Heroes' Day address on November 27.

Prabhakaran had said the LTTE was prepared to negotiate without conditions in a 'conducive environment', which according to him meant de-escalation of the island nation's civil war.

British Foreign Office minister Peter Hains's recent visit to Sri Lanka was linked to this exercise, diplomatic sources said. Though Hains met several ministers and top officials, he could not meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga. But she is believed to have met him in London last week during a meeting with British Foreign Secretary Robin Cook.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Karl F Inderfurth, who was in Sri Lanka last week, said the beginning of talks was one step towards the building of confidence. Others could follow.

He told journalists that the US would back the Norwegian initiative and Sri Lankans were fortunate to have Norway as a facilitator for negotiations. Norwegian envoy Erik Solheim met LTTE leader Prabhakaran and held discussions in the jungles of northern Sri Lanka on November 1.

Though a definite date has not been fixed for the first stage of the conflict de-escalation schedule, the parties involved are keen to ensure that at least the preliminary phase is completed by Christmas week regarded universally as the season of peace, amity and goodwill.

UNI

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