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Solheim, Rajapakse discuss peace

V.S. Sambandan

Talks "extensive and far-reaching"

COLOMBO: Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim on Friday held talks with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse on the political situation and the peace process.

The two-hour meeting was described by a presidential source as "extensive and far-reaching."

Two key international steps with a direct bearing on the peace process are the possible decision of an E.U.-wide listing of the LTTE as a terrorist organisation early next week and an international donors conference of the co-chairs of the peace process in Tokyo on May 30. The U.S., the E.U., Japan and Norway are the four co-chairs.

Mr. Solheim is scheduled to brief India on the peace process. Tokyo has invited India to participate in the donors meeting.

Reports on the imminent E.U.-wide decision have engaged media attention here. Last week, after the E.U. Parliament declared that an asset-freeze on the LTTE and its front organisations, the state-run Daily News called for a full ban. "The E.U. has put some curbs on the Tigers, but this is not adequate to make them realise the futility of persisting with the terror tool. In other words, E.U. sanctions must be made to "bite" and the only way to do this is to put the LTTE high up on the E.U.'s list of banned organisations," the newspaper had said in an editorial. Norway's Special Envoy Hanssen-Bauer is scheduled to visit Kilinochchi on Saturday to hold talks with the LTTE. The Norwegian efforts are against the backdrop of a rapidly deteriorating security situation and a continued deadlock on international attempts to resume the ceasefire implementation talks after the LTTE unilaterally pulled out from negotiations.

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