Solheim to meet President today

Pramod de Silva in New York

US: Norway's International Development Minister Erik Solheim is due to call on President Mahinda Rajapaksa on the sidelines of the UN deliberations.

President Rajapaksa and Solheim, who was the special envoy for the Sri Lankan Peace Process prior to the appointment of Jon-Hanssen Bauer, are expected to discuss the current developments in Sri Lanka including the All Party Representative Committee Process, which is on the threshold of presenting a finalised set of proposals.

Solheim recently told an interviewer in Norway that Norway was willing to resume its role of facilitating the peace process. It was waiting patiently till the Government and the LTTE agree to resume talks, he said.

Soon after the formal inauguration of the General Debate of the United Nations yesterday, the President held bilateral meetings with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas. He also held fruitful discussions with US Under Secretary for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns and UN Secretary General Ban Ki Moon.

The President is also scheduled to meet the Prime Minister of Malta Dr. Lawrence Gonzi today to discuss bilateral issues.

Special Representative of the Secretary General on Children and Armed Conflict Radhika Coomaraswamy will call on the President this morning. The LTTE's continued conscription of children for combat is likely to figure in the discussions. The President is also due to meet the world's press at the UN Press Room.

On Monday, the President held bilateral discussions with Icelandic President Dr. Olafur Grimsson at the UN during which they focused on expanding ties between the two countries. Josette Sheeran, Executive Director of the World Food Programme discussed the WFP' work and role in Sri Lanka with the President.