Archives

Prelude to Hakone talks from March 18: Balasingham returns for talks with Prabhakaran

by Ranga Jayasuriya

LTTE theoretician and Chief Negotiator Anton Balasingham arrived in Sri Lanka yesterday afternoon for discussions with his leader Velupillai Prabhakaran ahead of the sixth round of peace talks in Hakone, Japan.

Balasingham and his wife Adele arrived at the Bandaranaike International Airport around 2 pm and were whisked away to Kilinochchi by an Air Force Bell helicopter, diplomatic sources told the Daily News.

The duo were received by LTTE political chief Thamilchelvam, police chief Nadeshan and female colonel Vithusa, when they landed at the Kilinochchi Central College grounds, a LTTE spokesman said.

The Balasinghams left for Puthukkudiruppu, where they are expected to meet prabhakaran.

Balasingham will be in the Wanni till the next round of talks from March 18-21 in Hakone. He will leave for Japan with the rest of the LTTE delegation. These talks will mainly focus on a fiscal framework and a monetary policy for the federal system.

"Dr Balasingham will inform Prabhakaran on the developments of the negotiations and the duo will work out strategies for the 6th round of talks," a spokesman for the LTTE political headquarters in Kilinochchi told the Daily News.

The LTTE had sent delegations to study Swiss and German federal systems and is reported to have been impressed by the two systems.

Balasingham is expected to meet Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen and his deputy Vidar Helgesen due in Sri Lanka on March 12.

Balasingham, 64, who is diabetic and has had a kidney transplant, postponed a previous visit to Kilinochchi fearing he may contract a viral infection.

Last month's peace talks previously scheduled for Thailand were shifted to Berlin in order to cut down the travel time of the London- based LTTE chief negotiator.

Ahead of these key developments, the Government and the LTTE last week agreed to work together on three key issues and to create an environment conducive to bankers and investors in the North East for economic revival.

LTTE taxation, child recruitment and continuous demonstrations were highlighted at a discussion between the two parties as major factors hampering economic development in the North East.

Meanwhile, the Sub-committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs (SIHRN) and the World Bank Friday signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) as a prelude to the formal establishment of the North East Reconstruction Fund.

The Government and the LTTE in the fourth round of talks invited the World Bank to act as the custodian of the North East Reconstruction Fund.

The Fund will finance humanitarian projects aimed at the resettlement of internally displaced persons, mine-clearance, special needs of women and children and creation of income generation opportunities in the North East.

News | Business | Features | Editorial | Security
Politics | World | Letters | Sports | Obituaries |

Produced by Lake House
Copyright 2001 The Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd.
Comments and suggestions to :Web Manager