SLMM says striving for talks breakthrough

Rashomi Silva

COLOMBO: The Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission yesterday said they were working on various issues including the transport for Eastern cadres to attend meetings in Wanni, to achieve a breakthrough on the peace front.

SLMM spokesperson Helen Olafsdottir said: "We are working on several issues and modalities. Transport for LTTE Easter members is an important issues we are working hard on." She declined to elaborate further, saying "when one is working on peace one cannot always predict".

Meanwhile, a senior diplomat on the condition of anonymity said they were hopeful of a possibility of sending a technical team to uncleared areas to inspect the proposed landing sites.

"We are hopeful that we would be able to send a team to inspect the landing sites," he said. The team will also comprise SLMM members. Meanwhile SCOPP Deputy Chief Kethish Loganathan said the Government had approved LTTE proposed landing sites and were now concerned about finalising transport modalities to enable the Eastern LTTE cadres to go to the North," he said.

The issue, he said is dealt with by truce monitors.

The second round of Geneva talks was indefinitely put off due to what was termed as the 'transport crisis'.

The crisis deepened with the LTTE maintaining that they would use LTTE sea vessels with Sea Tigers providing security, but both the Government and the SLMM rejected this demand.

The LTTE last week responded to the sea plane offer favourably and the LTTE proposed a few landing sites.

SriLankan Airlines authorities said they would need to inspect the proposed sites to give their approval.

Addressing media after the meeting at Temple Trees Akashi said he was uncertain at the moment if they can hold a second round of talks in Geneva.

He said the President promised to do his best to make the Geneva two a reality and continue the dialogue with the LTTE.

At the yesterday's talks between the President and the special envoy, the present situation with regard to the peace process and obstacles facing the continuation of the negotiations was discussed in detail. On-going preparations and the agenda for the forthcoming co-chairs meeting in Tokyo was also taken up.

During the meeting Akashi pointed out that it was the responsibility of the Government to continue negotiations with the LTTE while stressing they were just there to help the Government and the LTTE in this quest.

He said his visit was to build up a favourable environment to overcome the current stalemate in the Peace negotiations.

The special envoy also met Government peace delegation, JVP Leader Somawansa Amarasinghe and the UNP Deputy Leader Karu Jayasuriya.