S.Lankan president concerned over delay in resumption of peace talks

Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has expressed her deep concern over the Tamil Tiger rebels' violation of ceasefire agreement and the delay in the resumption of the peace talks with the rebels, her office said in a statement issued late Thursday night.

President Kumaratunga received visiting Norwegian special envoy Erik Solheim at the President's House on Thursday after he returned from northern town of Kilinochchi held by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

Solheim briefed the president on his meetings with LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham in London and S.P. Thamilselvan, headof LTTE's political wing in Kilinochchi.

"The President reviewed the recent developments in the Peace Process expressing her deep concern over the LTTE's violations of the Cease fire Agreement and the delay in the resumption of negotiations between the GOSL (Government of Sri Lanka) and the LTTE, despite the flexibility demonstrated by the GOSL on the matter." the statement said.

Kumaratunga reiterated the commitment of her government to the strict adherence of the ceasefire agreement and the early commencement of peace talks with the LTTE rebels.

Solheim, who arrived here on Monday in his fresh bid to revive the stalled peace process in the country, has failed to break the deadlock between the government and the LTTE rebels.

All parties connected to the peace process are feeling a sense of frustration now, Solheim said, quoted by pro-rebel Tamilnet on Thursday after his meeting with Thamilselvan.

"The Norwegian facilitators did not bring any constructive message from the Sri Lankan government." Thamilselvan said.

The LTTE rebels and the government entered the Norwegian-brokered ceasefire in February 2002 and the two sides commenced directed talks seven months later.

However, the rebels walked out of the peace talks in April lastyear and insisted on the resumption of the talks on the basis of their ISGA proposals.

The Norwegian facilitators have been trying to revive the stalled peace talks since May this year but their efforts have been futile.

Source: Xinhua