Norway envoy sets stage for truce talks

Norway's Ambassador to Sri Lanka met with the LTTE yesterday ahead of a review of Oslo's peace initiative and talks next week on salvaging a shaky truce, diplomats said.

Ambassador Hans Brattskar travelled to Kilinochchi for talks with LTTE political wing chief S.P. Thamilselvan, Norwegian Embassy spokeswoman Kjersti Tromsdal said.

"The ambassador wanted to touch base with the LTTE before he goes to Oslo next week for a review of the peace process by the new (Norwegian government) team involved in Sri Lanka," Tromsdal said.

Top peace broker Erik Solheim told AFP last month after he was elected as part of Oslo's new Government that he would remain engaged in Sri Lanka. "After the new Government is formed ... it will formally contact the (Colombo) Government and the Tigers offering to continue its services in whatever manner the parties want," Solheim said after his election.

Last month, Oslo's outgoing administration named retired General Trond Furuhovde as a special envoy to hold talks with Colombo and the Tigers following new strains on the truce after the assassination of Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar on August 12.

Norwegian diplomats said Furuhovde was to meet separately with the LTTE and with the Sri Lankan Government early next week on protecting the ceasefire that has been in place since February 23, 2002. Furuhovde had previously served as head of the Norwegian-led truce monitoring mission.

Oslo asked him to meet with both parties separately after failing to secure agreement on a location to hold face-to-face talks on saving the truce.

AFP