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President welcomes Oslo talks

by Manjula Fernando

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunge has welcomed Minister Milinda Moragoda's visit to Oslo to hold discussions with the LTTE on a final agenda for peace talks.

Speaking at a media briefing at the Presidential Secretariat yesterday, Presidential Spokesman Harim Peiris said that she had welcomed the Minister's discussions with the LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham.

"We continue to believe that peace talks should encompass a comprehensive role or a wider agenda that include all issues that are at stake, specifically the human rights and the rights, freedom and the dignity of the people of the North and East. This area should also come within the democratic framework of the country," he said.

He said that the President is willing to provide any facilitation required to begin peace talks sooner. Although she had been encouraging early talks it has been postponed since May - "now we are in the middle of August," he said.

Speaking on the possible dissolution of Parliament after December 5 the spokesman emphasised that President has no intention whatsoever to dissolve Parliament or call fresh elections at this juncture.

However, he declined to comment on whether she will take such a decision in future. "I would not like to make futuristic speculations on what will happen in future but I would like to say categorically that at this moment, she has not decided to dissolve Parliament now or after December 5."

He said the President's view now was, ethnic and economic issues were far more important than a fresh election and they should strive together to find solutions to them.

He further said the PA was totally against an 18th amendment to the Constitution which would merely be for transient political requirements. "Constitutional changes should be for the needs of the country by far and we propose comprehensive constitutional reforms which also include the abolition of executive presidency."

He called on the government to implement the 17th Amendment before further reforms are brought in.

Referring to the recent meeting between the PA and the JVP he said: "The JVP is considered the third force in Parliament. We have come to an agreement to work together on issues that we can agree upon. It does not mean that we share the same view on all political issues. We have our differences which is why the JVP continues to function as a separate party outside the PA."

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