On the margins of the meeting, representatives of the EDA today held talks with an LTTE delegation, which included Anton Balasingham, Chief LTTE Negotiator in the peace talks with the Sri Lankan Government, and Suppiah Paramu Tamilselvan, Head of the Political Wing of the LTTE. The EDA
delegation was led by Ambassador Rodolphe S. Imhoof, Head of Political Affairs Division II, Asia/Oceania. Top of the agenda was the present state of the peace process in Sri Lanka.

The EDA welcomes the LTTE's continuing willingness to negotiate and calls for peace talks to be resumed as soon as possible. The EDA representatives condemned all political murders and pointed out that the LTTE has taken on extensive obligations with regard to respect for human rights - including the recruitment of child soldiers - and to the development of a pluralistic society in Sri Lanka. The EDA holds the view that a possible interim administration of the north east of Sri Lanka as decided in the peace talks should be based on a federal structure within a united Sri Lanka. Switzerland welcomes and supports Norway's role as a facilitator in the peace process.

Switzerland supports the peace process with programmes of conflict transformation and projects to strengthen human rights. It also provides advice on federalism and mine clearance as well as running reconstruction programmes and providing development aid.