Press statement on the meeting between the Heads of Mission from the United Kingdom, Netherlands and Switzerland and Mr S.P Tamilselvan, Head of the political wing of the LTTE on Wednesday, June 4, 2003.

Heads of Mission (HOMs) from the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom met with Mr S.P Tamilselvan, Head of the political wing of the LTTE, to reaffirm as bilateral donors their strong support for the peace process.

They reiterated their call on the negotiating parties to pursue the goal agreed in Oslo in December 2002 for a political settlement based on a federal solution within a united Sri Lanka.

They encouraged the parties to clarify the human rights, governance and democratic principles on which such a settlement would be based and to resume their dialogue with a view to bringing their negotiations to a successful conclusion.

Regarding reconstruction and development of the North East, the HOMs emphasised the particular importance of establishing joint GOSL-LTTE structures to plan and manage necessary assistance programmes. They urged the parties to continue negotiations to resolve the current issues on these structures.

The HOMs encouraged the LTTE to endorse the arrangements for the North East Reconstruction Fund (NERF), their respective countries having earmarked significant contributions. Operationalization will require the establishment of an implementation mechanisms in which both the GOSL and LTTE have a stake and in which donors have confidence.

HOMs recalled the international community's invitation to participate in the Tokyo conference, identifying it as a critical milestone in the development of both the North East and the entire country. It will provide the opportunity to pledge funds for reconstruction and development and to define an appropriate linkage between development assistance and progress on negotiating and implementing a political settlement based on democratic principles. The HOMs encouraged the LTTE to seize the international opportunity that Tokyo presents to highlight the concerns and safeguard the future of the people of the North East.

Mr Tamilselvan raised a number of issues related to the on going exchange of correspondence with the government of Sri Lanka and the Tokyo conference. The HOMs took note.