Solution must be within one country, says Solheim

Bandula Jayasekara reporting from Geneva

Norwegian Minister for International Development Erik Solheim said yesterday that a solution must be found within the unity and sovereignty of one Sri Lankan state.

Making the opening remarks before the commencement of talks between the government and the LTTE Solheim also said that terrorist attacks should stop and military campaigns also should stop and that it was time to stop violence and commence discussions to find a solution to the problem in Sri Lanka.

Solheim said that Norway works with the international community and the international community was deeply concerned about the situation in Sri Lanka. He said that war was not winnable and wars only prolong suffering. He also highlighted the vibrant economic prospects in the region and the great opportunities for Sri Lanka to share the success story of South Asia. He was optimistic of the two days of negotiations between the government and the LTTE.

On a personal note Solheim added that he has been involved with the peace process in Sri Lanka for nearly seven years and he and Norway was committed to continue with their role as facilitators to the Sri Lankan peace process.

Earlier Ambassador Heidi Taglivani, Deputy Head of the Political Affairs Directorate, Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs welcomed the government and the LTTE delegations for the talks.

She said the decision to have talks in Geneva was seen as a gesture of confidence in Switzerland as a friend that wants to help Sri Lanka. She said the time for a further round of talks could not be more urgent.

After the opening remarks by Solheim and Taglivani Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva, head of the Government delegation and LTTE's Thamil Chelvan greeted each other. The government delegation looked relaxed and comfortable while the LTTE delegation looked a bit tensed except for one or two members.

Minister Ferial Ashraff is the only female member of the government delegation. The LTTE has also included one member in their delegation.

There is not much media hype here for the opening session of the talks. Today is the second and final day of the talks.

Meanwhile, the Government's Defence spokesman Minister Keheliya Rambukwella said that the Government did not expect "miracles to take place" but was cautiously optimistic as a fresh round of peace negotiations commenced in Geneva yesterday.

Minister Rambukwella said that the government did not go to Geneva to pacify the LTTE, but was committed to address the grievances of the Tamil community. "President Mahinda Rajapaksa is determined to resolve the problems faced by the Tamil people.

There was no fixed agenda for the talks due to the disagreements between the two sides. The government had outlined seven core issues - namely democracy, pluralism, human rights, child recruitment, development of the North-East,Multi-party democracy and devolution - to be taken up during the negotiations.