Bauer keeps talks hopes alive

Extends mission seeking breakthrough

Rashomi SILVA

COLOMBO: Norway is to take a yet another initiative to salvage the truce talks between the Government and the LTTE, with the special envoy staying on in Colombo for a few more days.

According to Government Peace Secretariat sources, special envoy Hanssen Bauer was advised by his predecessor, International Development Minister Erik Solheim to delay his departure by a few more days till the LTTE comes into some agreement after their pre-talks meetings. The LTTE on Thursday indicated that it was seeking an indefinite postponement of the talks.

Bauer is expected to meet Government and LTTE leaders again for a fresh round of discussions to resolve the crisis.

The Government is also hopeful of getting the LTTE stance on their participation in Geneva talks today with the conclusion of a visit by two Nordic representatives to Killinochchi.

Plan Implementation Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said a senior Norwegian Embassy official and the head of Sri Lankan Monitoring Mission Ulf Henricsson went to Killinochchi on Friday to have a crucial round of talks with LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvam, on Geneva II. However Thamilselvam was supposed to have "important talks" in an unknown location.

"We will be able to get the LTTE stance on Saturday," said Rambukwella who is also the Defence Affairs Spokesman.

Commending on the Norway and the SLMM commitment to peace in Sri Lanka Rambukwella said that the duo were even prepared to stay overnight in Killinochchi till Thamilselvam returns from his "unknown location".

"We are hopeful of a positive outcome," said Deputy Head of the Secretariat Kethish Loganathan. "The postponement of Envoy Hanssen Bauer's departure, indicates that the facilitators are hopeful of a positive outcome," he said, adding that the Government would not give up the efforts till a breakthrough is achieved.

"We hope there will be a positive response from the LTTE once they conclude their consultations between the Eastern cadres and the Wanni leadership," he said.

Loganathan said they would not consider the talks postponement as an indefinite one. "We have to be optimistic when engaging in peace efforts."

Meanwhile, a Norwegian embassy spokesperson said they are working with both sides to bring the parties to the table as early as possible. "We are still working on some technical matters," he said.

Minister Rambukwella said the SLMM was playing a fairly impartial role. "The SLMM was criticised before for acting in a manner that is favourable to the Tigers, but now they seem to have corrected themselves to a great extent."

He said that if talks fail or break down the responsibility lays solely with the LTTE.

"The Government has done its maximum, so have the facilitator and the international community," he said. It is up to the LTTE to come forward for talks without giving false excuses, Rambukwella added.

The truce talks were initially due to be held from April 19 to 21, but were postponed to April 24 and 25 in view of the Wanni LTTE leaders' request for a pre-talks meeting with their Eastern command.

The LTTE demanded safe transport facilities from the Government for their Eastern leaders to have a consultation session with their leadership as a precondition for talks. They initially demanded a SLAF helicopter, but the Government arranged a civilian ferry.

After the boarding the ferry halfway, the LTTE pulled out its Eastern leaders from the trip citing security concerns.

With the Government agreeing to a compromise and letting the facilitators hire a private helicopter to settle the issue, the LTTE said they were unable to come for negotiations until the Government also takes action to ease tension in the East.

However, both sides have pledged their commitment to the ceasefire and the peace process.