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LTTE demand regrettable, says Solheim

V.S. Sambandan

COLOMBO: The Norwegian Minister for International Development, Erik Solheim, on Friday said the demand by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to replace ceasefire monitors from the E.U. countries as "deeply regrettable" and one that would "weaken" the monitoring of the four-year old truce accord.

"The LTTE's demand that Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission monitors from E.U. countries be replaced is deeply regrettable and will weaken the SLMM in a critical period," a Norwegian statement quoted Mr. Solheim as saying. Mr. Solheim is involved in the Sri Lankan peace process since the late 1990s when Norwegian facilitation commenced.

Replies received

The LTTE's insistence on the removal of ceasefire monitors from the E.U. came in its reply to five questions posed by the Norwegian Government to the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE after the Tigers refused to hold talks with Colombo in Oslo on the role to be played by the SLMM.

Oslo said it had received answers from both sides. "The Government of Sri Lanka has responded affirmatively to all five questions."

The questions related to the commitment of the two parties to the ceasefire agreement (CFA), view on the composition of the SLMM and the procedure for a transition plan in case of changes in the membership of the truce monitoring team.

A meeting is to be hosted by Norway in Oslo on June 29 is to discuss "the safety and future role and function of the SLMM," with other Nordic countries.

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