Moragoda and Balasingham meet in Norway to set date for Peace Talks

The Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) have agreed to commence formal talks in Thailand between the 12-17 of September 2002. This announcement was made by The Norwegian Foreign Ministry, following a meeting held in Oslo on 14th August, between the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister of Economic Reforms, Science and Technology and Deputy Minister of Policy Development, Milinda

Moragoda and the Chief Negotiator of the LTTE, Anton Balasingham.

The Director General of the Peace Secretariat, Ambassador Bernard Gunatilleke and Balasingham's wife, Adele, too participated in this meeting; which took place in the presence of Norwegian State Secretary, Vidar Helgesan and the Norwegian facilitation team consisting of the special adviser to the Foreign Ministry Erik Solheim, Norwegian Ambassador, Jon Westborg and Adviser, Lisa Golden. During the discussion on the Ceasefire, the Head of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission, Trond Furuhovde was present.

This meeting in Oslo was the second direct meeting between the Chief negotiator of the LTTE and the Central Government Minister supervising the peace process. The meeting followed up on the progress made at the first meeting between Moragoda and Balasingham, held on July 27 at the Norwegian Ambassador's residence in London.

Several key issues relating to the implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement were discussed at the Oslo meeting. Among these issues were the situation in the high security zones, the resettlement of internally displaced persons and the release of the detainees. The two sides took note of the July report of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission on the violations of the Ceasefire Agreement. The parties discussed reported incidents of LTTE recruitment of cadres under the age of eighteen and abductions. The LTTE agreed to investigate the issues and take remedial measures. Both parties welcomed the forthcoming visit in late August of the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General for Children and Armed Conflict, Olara Otunnu to the North and East of Sri Lanka.

While in Oslo, each party also met the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Jan Peterson. Peterson commended both parties for their agreement on starting talks in Thailand. He maintained that the agreement demonstrated that both parties are working together in a highly constructive spirit to resolve issues and take the peace process forward.

The Norwegian Government will release a statement shortly, announcing the exact date of the meeting in Thailand.

Source : Press Release issued by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry on 14th August 2002