Heads of Delegations, Delegates, Advisors, Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to welcome you back to Switzerland . We are pleased that the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have decided to return here for talks. We regard your decision as a gesture of confidence: confidence in Switzerland as a friend that wants to help Sri Lanka and all parties concerned to restore peace and human security in your country; confidence in the Norwegian Government as a facilitator that is seeking ways to lead the delegations to a better mutual understanding; confidence in the other party as a partner with whom one can engage; and finally confidence in one’s own ability to discuss, to propose solutions, and to exchange one’s own perspectives.

The time for a further round of talks could not be more urgent. Developments in Sri Lanka in the past months have seriously endangered the peace process and caused considerable concern within the international community. Switzerland , as the depositary State of the Geneva Conventions, feels it cannot forgo its responsibility to remind the parties to the conflict of their obligations to respect International Humanitarian Law, in particular to protect civilians from the effects of armed conflict. Respect not only for one’s own rights but for the rights of the other party makes the subsequent search for peace easier – an objective that we all, Sri Lankans and non Sri Lankans alike, must never lose sight of. Let us therefore make full use of this opportunity to build on these principles and create something of lasting benefit for the civilian population of Sri Lanka .

Today, as we meet in Geneva , I would like to put the following questions to you: What are your hopes for the next two days of discussions? What issues must be raised, discussed and agreed upon in the coming hours for you to be able to say: It was worth the effort? To achieve your goals, optimism and momentum are needed on all sides, as well as the will to engage in discussion. I hope you have come with this constructive approach. We, certainly, are counting on your positive attitude towards these talks and on your determination to make headway towards a peaceful settlement.

For Switzerland , the talks will have been successful if, as a result, the situation of the civilian population improves and the violence subsides. I hope you too can identify with this small but important step. Switzerland is willing to accompany you in making this and later steps towards a lasting solution.

I would like to conclude by expressing our gratitude to the facilitator, in particular Erik Solheim, the Norwegian Minister of International Development. And last but not least I would also like to thank the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission for its tireless efforts to support the peace process. I wish you every success.

Thank you.