Tigers should disarm before talks -EU

Rafik JALALDEEN

COLOMBO: The LTTE should disarm and come to the negotiations table for a peaceful solution as terrorism has no place or legacy anywhere in the world, the visiting European Parliament delegation leader Robert Evans said.

Addressing the media yesterday at the Hilton Residence, Evans said they were in Sri Lanka to share their experience and look into possible ways for a peaceful solution to the conflict.

Building an institutional mechanism where the Government and the LTTE can come to a peaceful solution is the EU’s aim, he added.

Evans said the LTTE should agree to a long-term truce.

“The European MPs are fully aware that Sri Lanka is involved in the fight against terrorism. It should be defeated for the development of the country,” he added.

The EU would support efforts to reform the country’s political structure in a way that reconciles the three communities under a constitutional framework, he added.

Evans said all political parties should be involved in discussions to find a long-lasting peaceful political solution to the conflict.

“The TMVP led by the Karuna faction entering political mainstream is a great achievement. The Eastern development process after the PC election is another challenge that the Government could face.”

“The Tamil National Alliance should take part in the All Party Representative Committee. We also appreciate APRC Chairman Prof. Tissa Vitharana’s attempts to make the APRC live up to its name,” he added.

Commenting on GSP+, Evans said they held discussions and meetings with Export Development and International Trade Minister Prof. G.L.Peiris and stressed the need to address 27 conventions to gain GSP+.

“The GSP+ issue is debatable but I am confident that Sri Lanka is capable of addressing the conventions and gaining the GSP+ to develop the economy and employment,” he said.