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| Friday, 10 September 2004 |
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| Initiative to begin talks will be carried out by special committee, says Minister Leader of the House Mahaweli and River Basins Development Minister Maithripala Sirisena yesterday categorically emphasised that the initiative to begin talks with the LTTE and the preparation of the background will be carried out by a special committee headed by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. No one should fear that either the United People's Freedom Alliance Government or the President herself will commit any act that will betray the country or split the country into two, he said responding to an oral question raised in Parliament. Sirisena said the Government firmly stood by its stance that the LTTE should be a major partner to the negotiation process and that the Government will not permit any single party to secure international recognition by merely conducting peace negotiations. The former UNP Government lifted the ban on the LTTE by Gazette Notification No. 1252/15 dated September 04, 2002 without any notification to or ratification by the President and without any discussion with her, Sirisena said. The legal status of the LTTE continues undeterred by virtue of the said Gazette Notification. Before beginning discussions with the LTTE, their proposals are being studied and the acceptability or non-acceptability of suggestions made therein will be announced by the Government at the time of discussion, he said. Proposals on the part of the Government are also now under study and will be discussed with all political parties represented in Parliament before approaching the peace negotiations. In the course of peace negotiations too, whenever necessary, the issues will be discussed with all political parties represented in Parliament in a manner transparent both nationally and internationally, he said. Sirisena said since the Government is of the view that the Muslim community is adequately represented within the United People's Freedom Alliance Government for peace negotiations, ethnic groups including the Muslims will have the opportunity to express their views through the National Advisory Council for Peace and Reconciliation as announced by the President on June 12, 2004. |
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