International   

Norway: yet to receive any communication

B. Muralidhar Reddy

COLOMBO: Norway, official facilitator of Sri Lanka peace talks, on Tuesday said that it has so far not received any communication from either the Government of Sri Lanka or the LTTE on the latest developments arising out of the declaration of LTTE chief that his organisation has decided to pursue the goal of an independent Tamil State.

"We have heard through the media that the Government of Sri Lanka has sought a clarification on our role in the light of the new developments. However, we have so far not received any communication," Eric I. Nurmberg, spokesperson of the Norwegian mission here told The Hindu .

Asked about the contents of the 2006 `Heroes Day' speech of Velupillai Prabakaran, the Norwegian spokesperson said that his Government was `studying and digesting' it.

Separately, the main opposition party in the island nation, the United National Party said a vast majority of the people including most of Tamils favoured solution to the ethnic issue within a united Sri Lanka and separation was no answer and could only lead to further bloodshed and suffering by all.

The UNP MP, Gayantha Karunatilake, in a statement issued here appealed to the LTTE and the Government of Sri Lanka to respond positively to the Co-Chairs Statement of November 21 that outlined proposals for peace talks.

The statement also appealed to the people of the country to support President Mahinda Rajapaksa and the Leader of the Opposition and former Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe to `evolve credible power sharing' proposals that would form the basis for a viable negotiated settlement between the Government and the LTTE.

"Today fear and insecurity haunt all citizens. However, the sufferings of the people of the north and the east exceed those of others. Nevertheless, it must be pointed out that the LTTE is also responsible for the present crisis. They prevented the Tamils of north and east voting for the UNP candidate at the last Presidential election, thereby preventing an immediate resumption of peace process," it said.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Norway: yet to receive any communication
Norway must clarify stand: Colombo
Japan sets terms for six-party talks
Polonium found at the office of Putin opponent
Pope backs Turkey's bid for E.U. membership
Quebec recognised as "nation within Canada"
Rise of exotic degrees
To end back pain at work
Tutankhamun's fall
Darfur role to continue: China
New Chinese satellite
For presumed peace, from India

Copyright © 2006, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu