Germany supports Norwegian-backed peace process in Sri Lanka

Visiting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has said that Germany supports the ongoing Norwegian-backed peace process in Sri Lanka, the official Daily News said on Monday.

After meeting with his Sri Lankan counterpart Lakshman Kadirgamar on Sunday, Fisher said that Germany welcomed the Sri Lankan government's commitment to the peace process.

"We are backing our Norwegian friends playing their role in this regard," Fischer said.

Peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tiger rebels have been stalled since April last year.

The German government has also agreed to fund the 2 million Euro project on a business information network to be set up in SriLanka aimed at improving communication capabilities within the countries in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

Fischer arrived here late Saturday as part of his 10-day tour of Asia to canvass support for his country's bid to secure a permanent seat in the United Nation's Security Council.

However, Kadirgamar said that the Sri Lankan government has nottaken a decision to extend its support to Germany's endeavor to become a permanent UN member.

Fisher is expected to meet President Chandrika Kumaratunga and opposition leader Ranil Wickremesinghe before his departure on Monday.

Source: Xinhua