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| Saturday, 15 November 2003 |
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Peace process in good shape, facilitators tell President Norwegian facilitators who called on President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga at the President's House said they are confident that "the peace process is in good shape." During the one-and-a-half-hour meeting Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister, Vidar Helgessen, Norwegian Ambassador, Hans Brattskar and Tomas Stangeland of the Norwegian Embassy briefed the President on their meeting with LTTE Leader V. Prabhakaran in Killinochchi and thanked her for the opportunity to report back on the LTTE concerns. According to the Norwegians, the LTTE fears for safety of its cadres with the recent change to the defence portfolio and for the continuation of the Ceasefire Agreement (CFA) signed in February, 2002. They said the LTTE would like their political cadres to continue operating in the government controlled areas. The LTTE also voiced concern over an alleged statement by the Navy Commander saying SLMM representatives would no longer be allowed on Navy ships. President Kumaratunga said no such order had been given to the Navy and reassured the facilitators there would be no changes that would have an adverse impact on the peace process or the CFA. Responding to the LTTE's confusion regarding contradictory statements for certain People's Alliance politicians, the President explained that free expression prevailed in a democratic set up but however stressed that the PA as a group had never derided the peace process. President Kumaratunga also refuted allegations that she had termed the MoU between the government and the LTTE as 'illegal' in her address to the nation on November 7 and said she had been quoted out of context. She emphasised that she had merely explained that defence as per the Constitution should come under the President's purview. "My main obligation is to a lasting peace. I did point outflaws in the Ceasefire Agreement at the very outset but let it continue. Some of my concerns have now been vindicated," the President told the Norwegians. She said that the Armed Forces at all levels had been told to maintain the status quo. President Kumaratunga said Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe having taken the peace process forward over the past two years should continue to give leadership and any problems that arise could be discussed with her. The President reiterated that she would not hesitate to sign any solution acceptable to all communities when it is reached. The Norwegian facilitators stressed the need for the situation in the South to be resolved saying that stability was important for the smooth continuation of the process. |
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