Govt will not retreat from talks - Minister Nimal Siripala

Rajmi Manatunga

COLOMBO: Government Chief Negotiator Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday emphasised that the Government will not retreat from the negotiations table for any reason, unlike the LTTE which has repeatedly gone back on its word.

The Minister gave this assurance when he met Japanese Special Peace Envoy Yasushi Akashi in Colombo yesterday.

Addressing the media after the meeting, de Silva said he conveyed to the Japanese envoy that the Government was sincere in its commitment to peace talks, despite LTTE attempts to use the negotiations period to purchase arms and strengthen themselves militarily.

"The mission of the President is to find a durable solution to the ethnic problem. We firmly believe that this problem should be solved through negotiations. That is why we agreed to participate in the peace talks to be held in Geneva on October 28 and 29," he said.

During the meeting, Minister de Silva has also called upon Akashi to ensure through the international community that the LTTE does not arbitrarily withdraw from the negotiations as in Oslo and Geneva.

"The LTTE should not take undue advantage of the Government's commitment to a negotiated settlement. Special Envoy Akashi assured us that he will take this message strongly to the LTTE," he added.

At yesterday's discussion, Akashi has also expressed the support of the Co-Chairs to the decision of the Government and the LTTE to take part in the Geneva peace talks where several core issues including democracy, the protection of the human rights and electoral systems are to be taken up.

The Japanese Special Envoy who arrived in the island on Sunday will travel to Killinochchi tomorrow to meet LTTE representatives. He is expected to convey the LTTE's response to the Government following the visit.

Meanwhile, Norwegian facilitator Jon Hanssen Bauer is also expected to arrive in the country and have discussions with the Government Chief Negotiator today.