The Hindu : International : Akashi sees flexibility in Colombo's stand

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

International

International

Akashi sees flexibility in Colombo's stand

By V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO, NOV. 2. The visiting Japanese special envoy, Yasushi Akashi, said today that he had conveyed "some ideas" of the President, Chandrika Kumaratunga, to the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, during a meeting with its political wing leader, S.P. Tamilchelvan, in rebel-held Kilinochchi on Monday.

Striking a tone of optimism, Mr. Akashi, who declined to reveal the "ideas" he had conveyed to the Tigers, as they were "confidential," however, said: "I can notice currents and moves which can lead to a positive development."

At a press conference at the end of his weeklong visit to the island-nation, Mr. Akashi said he noticed a "flexibility" in Colombo's position to restart talks and that the LTTE was "carefully examining" the President's ideas. Mr. Akashi, here on his eighth visit as Japan's Special Representative for Peace-building, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation in Sri Lanka, met a cross section of the island's political leadership since October 27.

Of his meeting with Ms. Kumaratunga on October 29, Mr. Akashi said: "She gave me the strong impression that she is committed to the pursuit of peace," and was "willing to make efforts to resume negotiations with the Tigers."

Mr. Tamilchelvan assured him of "his and the LTTE's commitment to the peace process." Mr. Akashi also said he had "raised the matter of political killings and abductions in the east" during the meeting, and "I got the usual answers from the LTTE."

As for the role of the international community — which pledged a sum of $4.5 billion spread over four years for the reconstruction of Sri Lanka — it would be "consistent in the pursuit of elusive peace" in Sri Lanka, he said. He expressed the hope that the stalled peace talks would resume "sooner, than later." The international community, he added, had "no intention of interfering in the domestic affairs of Sri Lanka."

Praise for Norway

Praising the facilitators of the peace process, Norway, for "playing a splendid role," Mr. Akashi said efforts were on by all concerned to bridge differences and work towards resumption of the talks.Mr. Akashi, who will travel to India from here said keeping India briefed was part of Japan's "comprehensive Asia policy," and his country's "policy on supporting peace in Sri Lanka." Asked whether he would convey to India the LTTE's apprehensions on a bilateral defence co-operation agreement in the making, Mr. Akashi said: "I don't think that this is in the nature of a hostile, aggressive agreement to address the domestic situation in Sri Lanka."

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