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| Sunday, 13 June 2004 |
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Senior Ministers to talk peace President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga in an Address to the Nation over television yesterday on the occasion of the UPFA government completing 60 days in office said that a team of Senior Cabinet Ministers would be appointed to negotiate with the LTTE once dates for the talks are agreed upon. Over the past few weeks the Government has been in the process of resolving issues about the substance and agenda for peace negotiations, she added. "While the two parties have not yet reached agreement about how to proceed, the Government will approach the issue of the content of the next round of talks in a principled manner," the President further said While being committed to a dialogue with the LTTE on a lasting solution, the Government takes seriously the urgent need for effective development work in the North and East, she told the country. According to her the government is also ready to discuss with the LTTE interim political measures that can address this need within the contours of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country. The President outlined several initiatives she would be taking shortly to carry forward the peace process in a more broad-based and transparent manner. Some of these initiatives are: 1) the setting up of a broad-based national forum - the National Advisory Council on Peace and Reconciliation (NAC) comprising political, religious and social leaders 2) a process of continuous dialogue with all political leaders of various communities and groups represented in Parliament and 3) the setting up of a National Council for Peace chaired by the President as the apex body that will coordinate all institutions dealing with peace. The NAC will serve as a forum for explaining the Government's peace efforts, briefing the country on the progress of the peace negotiations, obtaining views of all concerned parties and groups and promoting reconciliation and understanding among different communities. The President concluded her address in a note of conciliation expressing hope that the major political parties will soon gain the ability to put the nation before self in order to work towards achieving consensus in the interest of the Nation. |
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