Hakeem meets Solheim

The Sri Lanka Muslim Congress leader Rauff Hakeem has urged the Norwegian facilitator Erik Solheim to take all possible steps to prevent another outbreak of clashes between the Government and the LTTE.

The SLMC leader met the Norwegian Minister of International Development and Peace Facilitator Erik Solheim in Colombo yesterday.

The SLMC leader has also conveyed his party's concerns regarding the hostilities that have broken out both in the North and East and many other parts of the country particularly some attacks of the Muslims which are not yet been properly investigated. "In this regard if the war resumes there is serious responsibility cast on both the Government and the LTTE to see that unarmed civilians and those parties which are not involved in direct hostilities between these parties should be afforded maximum protection", Hakeem added.

During the meeting Hakeem has urged the Norway Government to continue pursuing the peace facilitation even if parties were to resume hostilities.

"We found Mr. Erik Solheim is quite aware of such a possibility and he has assured us that it is the intention of Norway as long as the parties wish to them to remain in the process even if hostilities break out that they will continue to engage in the process as facilitators", he said.

On the question of concerns expressed by the Muslim community on the representation, Mr. Soilheim told media that "Mr. Rauff Hakeem brought up the issue of Muslim representation in the future peace talks. This has to be decided by the Government and LTTE and not by Norway as facilitators".