LTTE take Norway, International Community for a ride

OSLO: The scheduled talks between the Government and the LTTE in Oslo was a non-starter yesterday with the LTTE refusing to attend the parley.

The LTTE had refused to meet with the Government delegation after arriving at the conference venue in Norway, a Government media release stated.

Peace observers in Colombo described the LTTE's sudden volte-face as an unacceptable behaviour. They said it was clear that the LTTE was having other agendas.

They ask as to what the LTTE who has refused to meet the Government expect to do in Norway until June 14.

The Government delegation came to Oslo at the Royal Norwegian Government's invitation to discuss the operational modalities and functional attributes of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM).

A similar invitation was made to the LTTE.

Since the SLMM monitors' safety and security were of prime concern, the Government delegation was looking forward to the talks which would have been of a technical nature to provide the SLMM with the required assurances. Extensive preparations had been made in advance by the Government delegation for these talks.

The Royal Norwegian Government invited both the Government and the LTTE to attend the meeting in Oslo. The Government acceptance of the invitation was communicated by Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera on June 1. The Government also issued a press statement indicating the acceptance of the invitation for Oslo talks and naming the head of the delegation.

The LTTE left Sri Lanka for Oslo having full knowledge of this position on June 4.

The talks were scheduled for June 8-9 at the Thorbjrnrud Hotel A.S. in Jevnaker near Oslo.

On June 8 at 9.00 a.m., the Government delegation was informed by the Norwegians that the LTTE had declined to meet the Government delegation. Norwegian Government representatives themselves expressed complete surprise at the LTTE stance despite all background preparations made by the Norwegian facilitators.

The Government delegation was also informed that the LTTE had indicated that the presence of nationals from Sweden, Denmark and Finland as members of the SLMM was objectionable as these are nationals of EU member countries.

The Government delegation informed the Norwegian representatives that in terms of the Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA) had requested the Royal Norwegian Government to organise and establish the SLMM and other members of the mission be recruited from among the citizens of the Nordic countries and expressed the view that nationals from Sweden, Denmark and Finland, although from EU Member States shall be recruited as members of the SLMM in their individual capacities.