Tigers end Sri Lanka peace deadlock

KILINOCHCHI – Tamil Tiger rebels yesterday agreed to hold talks with the Sri Lankan government in Geneva in mid-February, a top Norwegian peace broker said here after hectic closed-door negotiations.

The talks would focus on strengthening their ceasefire agreement after a surge in violence left 152 people dead since December, envoy Erik Solheim told reporters after a rare meeting with Tamil Tiger supremo Velupillai Prabhakaran. “We expect Geneva to be the venue for such a meeting,” Solheim said.Solheim travelled to the political capital of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after discussions with President Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo in a bid to save the truce that has been in place since February 2002.”There may be a need for more meetings,” Solheim said.”They would be held in Switzerland or elsewhere in Europe.”He said the agenda for next month’s ice-breaking meeting between the new Colombo government and the Tamil Tigers will be “to strengthen the ceasefire agreement.”There is a need “to create a climate that is conducive for peace,” he said.Solheim also stressed the need to reduce attacks on the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), which suffered a bomb attack earlier this month.The SLMM is monitoring the truce that went into force in February 2002.”It was very, very difficult, if not impossible, to keep the ceasefire” unless attacks are stopped, Solheim said.”Every possible measure must be taken to guarantee the security of the SLMM.”Asked if both sides had agreed to stop the latest wave of violence, Solheim replied: “The agreement between the two parties will have to be made at the meeting.”- Nampa-AFP”We expect Geneva to be the venue for such a meeting,” Solheim said.Solheim travelled to the political capital of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) after discussions with President Mahinda Rajapakse in Colombo in a bid to save the truce that has been in place since February 2002.”There may be a need for more meetings,” Solheim said.”They would be held in Switzerland or elsewhere in Europe.”He said the agenda for next month’s ice-breaking meeting between the new Colombo government and the Tamil Tigers will be “to strengthen the ceasefire agreement.”There is a need “to create a climate that is conducive for peace,” he said.Solheim also stressed the need to reduce attacks on the Norwegian-led Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM), which suffered a bomb attack earlier this month.The SLMM is monitoring the truce that went into force in February 2002.”It was very, very difficult, if not impossible, to keep the ceasefire” unless attacks are stopped, Solheim said.”Every possible measure must be taken to guarantee the security of the SLMM.”Asked if both sides had agreed to stop the latest wave of violence, Solheim replied: “The agreement between the two parties will have to be made at the meeting.”- Nampa-AFP