The Hindu : Peace process a complex one, says Chandrika

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Jan 05, 2004

International

International

Peace process a complex one, says Chandrika

By Our Islamabad Bureau

ISLAMABAD Jan. 4. The Sri Lankan President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, said here today that she along with the Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, were resolved to see the peace process in the island nation move forward overcoming the ``various obstacles.''

She said the process was a complex and intricate one and the Government was trying to deal with the core issues of the ethnic question within the framework of the sovereignty, territorial integrity and national security of the state.

``The situation is further compounded by the delicate balance required for co-habitation within the Government by the two major political parties. I believe that we are all firmly resolved to move the process of peaceful resolution of the conflict forward despite differences of opinion and style. The ceasefire asgreement between the Government and the LTTE has continued for two years now,'' she said.

Ms. Kumaratunga recalled that at the Kathmandu summit she had said that in the past decades, terrorism had become the one, single most, terrifying factor in national and international politics.

``I also observed that an important corollary to combating terrorism is the identification and resolution of root causes through courageous and bold approaches. In Sri Lanka, we are beginning to witness the benefits of such an endeavour,'' she said.

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