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| Friday, 30 July 2004 |
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Politics | |
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| Cabinet spokesman: 'Thunder, lightning or rain we are ready for negotiations' by Manjula Fernando, Nadira Gunatilleke and Dinushika Dissanayake The Government yesterday brushed aside speculation that the country was heading for another war and stressed that it was committed to an early resumption of peace talks with the LTTE to achieve lasting peace and an end to ethnic strife. "In thunder, lightning or in rain we are ready for negotiations and we hope the LTTE shows a similar commitment," Cabinet spokesman Minister Samaraweera told the weekly Cabinet news briefing. "What is at stake is much larger than the recent incidents reported in the East and Colombo," the Minister said. The Cabinet spokesman said the Government was ready to start negotiations anywhere, anytime, any place and were ready to show a certain degree of flexibility with regard to their stand on the agenda in order to bring the LTTE to the negotiating table. "Even though we do not agree with the Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) on principle, the Government has agreed to open discussions on the ISGA, along with the final solution. "I think the LTTE must also show some flexibility on their part for the sake of the peace process," Minister Samaraweera added. The Minister observed that both parties must not let the incidents in the South impede the peace process. Questioned whether the JVP would oppose the Government's plan to resume talks on the Interim Administration, the Minister said the JVP was very much part of the Alliance government and they were fully aware of the Government's stand on the issue that the IA should be a part of the final solution. Minister Samaraweera said the LTTE has been made aware of this stand through the Norwegian facilitators and they hope the talks could resume early to narrow down differences of opinion at the discussion table. He however, added that killing of political opponents and journalists and unleashing suicide attacks in Colombo would have a serious impact on the peace process. |
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