Moscow has received with satisfaction news of the first round of peace talks held in Thailand between representatives of the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). We welcome the successful start of the negotiation process and express hope for its continuation to reach an agreement to settle the many-year inter-ethnic armed conflict in Sri Lanka in the interests of all the ethnic groups of the country.

Moreover, Russia believes that the restoration of peace and stability is possible only under condition that the practice of terrorism and extremism be renounced and on the basis of ensuring the state unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Sri Lanka.