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| Monday, 26 January 2004 |
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Donor financial aid will continue, says Akashi by Ranga Jayasuriya Donor nations will continue with financial assistance having acknowledged the peace process is moving forward despite the deadlock in negotiations, Japanese peace envoy Yasushi Akashi said yesterday, while cautioning there may be modifications if the political crisis continues. The Japanese envoy said the SLFP and JVP have moved positively towards peace through their alliance. Commenting on the impact of the SLFP-JVP alliance on the peace process, he said in a reading of its MoU, the two parties had demonstrated a "painful effort for a negotiated settlement with the LTTE". He said the Tigers have said that they will talk peace with anyone who comes out with authority and mandate to implement the ceasefire and the peace process. "As for the commitments pledged at Tokyo, they remain as they are. Nobody is holding back their words and responsibilities," Akashi who chaired Friday's donor meeting told a press conference. He however said some major donors are "holding back and reviewing" the current political situation. "Perhaps there may be modifications in delivering assistance," he said pointing to the Tokyo declaration which linked most of aid to the progress in the peace process. Akashi said even though the peace negotiations have not yet resumed, "the peace process is sound and moving". "The Ceasefire Agreement is largely being honoured, resettlement and humanitarian assistance is proceeding, even though not at the level of the satisfaction of everyone". When he visited the Wanni last week, Akashi said: "I saw with my own eyes that there are signs of improvement. More schools have been repaired, more hospitals built". "But in the eyes of Thamilselvam, it (progress) is painfully slow," he said referring to his discussions with the LTTE political chief last week. Referring to his discussions with the President and the Prime Minister, Akashi said both leaders saw the need for a compromise. "There is a basis for some kind of solution," he said referring to the progress of the on-going discussions between the committee of officials appointed by the President and the Prime Minister. Asked whether he is mediating a settlement between the two leaders, he replied in negative. "They said they are still committed to the peace process and complying with the ceasefire agreement," he said. Asked whether he feels more optimistic (about the political situation in Colombo) than when he arrived on Friday last week, he said: "I am a long-term optimist and short time pessimist". |
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