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Norway-Thailand discuss peace talks venue

Norway's Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen will visit Thailand today (29) to discuss a proposal for Thailand to host landmark talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), officials said Thursday.

Helgesen will meet Foreign Minister Surakiart Sathirathai to discuss possible arrangements for the historic peace talks due to be held in May which are being brokered by Norway.

"The possibility of holding Sri Lanka peace talks in Thailand is expected to be raised during the discussions," a foreign ministry statement said, without giving details on the proposed arrangements.

Constitutional Affairs Minister G. L. Peiris on Wednesday said the talks would be hosted by an Asian nation in six weeks time.

Official sources in Colombo said Thailand was the most likely choice for the meeting between the LTTE and the government of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. The Maldives was also being considered.

Helgesen is due in Sri Lanka by mid-April to prepare the ground for the meeting, the first between the government and the LTTE since the Oslo peace initiative began three years ago.

He is due to meet Prime Minister Wickremesinghe in Colombo during this visit and proceed to the Vanni to meet LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran. LTTE Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham and Political Wing Leader Thamil Chelvam will also be present. Helgesen heads the high-profile Norwegian delegation which also includes special envoy Erik Solheim.

Solheim, Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg and Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission Trond Furohovde have briefed Prime Minister Wickremesinghe on their talks with the LTTE leadership on Tuesday. They met the LTTE leaders soon after the arrival of Anton Balasingham by seaplane from Male.

LTTE leader Prabhakaran has assured the Norwegian delegation that he was willing to start direct political negotiations with the government soon.

Solheim has also held regular meetings with Balasingham in London to lay the groundwork for the current ceasefire as well as for direct talks. 

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