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Peace talks by end June - PM

Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said on Monday that peace talks between the Government and the LTTE would begin in the last week of June. Norwegian facilitators were now having discussions in Colombo to finalise the exact date for the talks.

The Prime Minister was addressing a press conference in Brussels after talks with European leaders.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said during the talks he reassured European Union Chairman Romano Prodi and other EU leaders about the Sri Lanka Government's total commitment to the peace process.

The Prime Minister during his extensive talks also briefed Mr. Prodi about the progress of the ongoing peace process and the current political situation in the country. Talks also centred round trade and investments from Europe.

The Prime Minister said the Sri Lanka Government understood the need to curb illegal immigrants from Sri Lanka to Europe. Sri Lanka would work in close collaboration with the European Union to tackle this issue. The Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Employment and Labour and Home Affairs were now in the process of formulating a program to tackle this issue with the participation of the EU.

Mr. Wickremesinghe said one of his priorities was to develop trade links with the EU. Sri Lanka has had trade links with the Roman Empire, Britain and subsequently with the EU for the past several centuries. The Sri Lanka economy had always depended on trade and Sri Lanka should explore the possibility of expanding its market in the EU. Mr. Wickremesinghe also thanked the EU for its assistance towards Sri Lnaka's economic and political development and for sending election observers during the past two elections.

Mr. Prodi addressing the Press Conference expressed the hope that there would not be any turning back from the current peace process in Sri Lanka.

When a journalist asked what repercussions would be felt in the EU if the LTTE is deproscribed by Sri Lanka as a prelude to the peace talks Mr. Prodi said the European Commission was not prepared to interfere with the peace process unnecessarily.

However it was prepared to provide all assistance towards creating the environment for peace talks and the dawn of peace.

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