Norway to discuss Sri Lanka with India

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 July 2004, 00:02 GMT]
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Petersen is on a three-day visit to New Delhi, to discuss the deteriorating situation in Sri Lanka with Indian leaders, IANS quoted diplomatic sources as saying Monday.

Mr. Petersen, who arrived on Monday, is to meet Indian External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh and National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit Tuesday before concluding his visit on Wednesday, IANS said.

“The main topic of the discussion is expected to be the situation in Sri Lanka, where there is growing tension in the wake of the failure of Colombo and Tamil Tiger guerrillas to resume peace talks,” IANS said.

According to the agency’s diplomatic sources, originally Mr. Petersen was to visit India along with Mr. Erik Solheim, Norway's special envoy to Sri Lanka.

LTTE sources told TamilNet, Mr. Solheim would meet with Mr. Anton Balasingham, the movement’s Chief Negotiator, at the latter’s residence in London this week.

Indian press reports said India and Norway will Tuesday sign an agreement to establish a Joint Commission at the Foreign Ministers' level and discuss ways to further consolidate bilateral ties with special focus on enhancing cooperation in the energy and oil sector.