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Excerpts of an interview with Foreign Minister Tyronne Fernando last week on the eve of his departure for the Commonwealth Ministers Action group meeting in Nigeria.

Q: The two main political parties have started a new era of cohabitation politics ending an era of confrontational politics. Do you think this is what is happening?

A: This should happen. Since we (the UNF) took over the Government I have been of the view throughout the past two years that the Government and the President should work together to resolve major problems, including the ethnic crisis facing the country.

I was criticised by some members of our own party. It is due to this confrontational attitude that the country faces all these hardships today. Nevertheless, now those confrontationists, in both parties have become silent.

At the inception, the President worked with us in a quite harmonious manner. She approved all the names designated for Ministerial portfolios. In addition the President granted her approval for most of the listing of names, including names of some former Ministers, submitted by me for diplomatic portfolios. However, due to this confrontational attitude of some, as I mentioned earlier, the understanding, between the President and the Prime Minister was gravely damaged. The final result was the taking over of three key Ministries by the President.

Taking over those three Ministries to which the Ministers were appointed earlier on the recommendation of the Prime Minister and when the governing party is not that of the President, and while the Prime Minister was out of the country, is totally unacceptable.

Now, we have to move forward amidst all these hindrances.

Q: Are the representatives of both the President and the Prime Minister negotiating to resolve problems? It has been revealed that you too played a role in this regard.

A: Having associated with both the President and the Prime Minister for about 40 years, I maintain friendly ties with both of them. Although I am unable to give every detail, I have done my best in this regard. The current situation has created pressures on both parties to resolve at least the ethnic crisis facing the country. It is obvious that in order to find a permanent solution to the issue a two-thirds majority of Parliament and the country at a referendum have to approve the solution.

President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga is a person who advocated devolution even when Vijaya was living. The 13th amendment initiated by us (the UNP) also provided for devolution of power.

Q: Some are of opinion that the only solution to the issue is an election. What do you think about that?

A: No. Nobody needs an election right now. The country is unable to bear the expenses to hold another election. In addition if we go for an election now, the dispute and violence will escalate.

Q: Presently, many people say that the proposals submitted by the LTTE cannot be accepted. This situation wouldn't it be a problem to re-commence peace talks?

A: I recall at this moment a statement made by the President herself. She has stated that however difficult it may look to reach an agreement, the opportunity to discuss the matter should not be avoided.

Q: Does a collaboration between the two major parties mean a government comprising Ministers from both parties?

A: No. For the time being it is not so. We are discussing an agreement to resolve the main issues. Whether the SLFP joins with the JVP or whether the TULF joins the UNP are matters that should be decided by those parties.

We have requested the President to lead the peace initiative. If the JVP too was dedicated to make peace, as they say, it would be a great help to take the peace process forward.

Q: This looks like a government without a 'head'. Isn't that so? The President is from another party and the Government has lost the portfolios of Defence and Media. Don't you feel that it is like losing governing power?

A: No, there is no such feeling. Even though the President took over the state media, I see that she too follows a similar policy as I used to do when I was the Media Minister. During the tenure of President D.B. Wijetunge, it was I who let the whole country view her on TV by managing the media in a balanced manner.

Now, under the President the State media gives publicity to the former Media Minister and the Prime Minister as well. But we are observing the situation. A fair solution is expected from the Mano-Malik talks over the Defence Ministry. If the Premier is to lead the peace process the question raised today is which party should have the operational control of the security forces.

Q: All right. In future peace talks, will there be representations of the President as well at the negotiating table?

A: The Government is thinking that right now.

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