2nd lead (adds details)

GoSL entirely responsible for resuming talks - LTTE

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 15 December 2004, 11:07 GMT]
"The responsibility of resurrecting the stalled peace process is entirely with the government in ensuring that its coalition partners reflect the thinking of the president, if she is in fact really sincere, and her military refrains from coercive and provocative actions", Mr. S. P. Thamilchelvan, Head of the Political Wing of the LTTE told the Norwegian facilitators Wednesday in Kilinochchi. "Norwegian delegation was unable to give assurance that Sri Lanka Government will take any constructive steps to take the peace process forward" Thamilchelvan told the Press after the meeting.

The President has a "moral obligation to demonstrate her commitment by first respecting the overwhelming democratic mandate given by the Tamil people”, the website of the LTTE's Peace Secretariat quoted Thamilchelvan as saying to the Norwegian delegation.

Mr. Erik Solheim and Mr. Thamilchelvan spoke to the Press briefly after the meeting at the LTTE Peace Secretariat.

"We focussed our discussion on issues that are endangering the peace process. Norwegian delegation was unable to give assurance that Sri Lanka Government will take any constructive steps to take the peace process forward," said Thamilchelvan, head of LTTE political wing, after the meeting with Norwegian peace envoy Eric Solheim Tuesday at the LTTE peace secretariat.

"We reiterated our leadership's stand regarding resumption of peace talks as expressed in Mr Pirapaharan's Heroes'day speech to the Government of Sri Lanka through the Norwegian delegation," said Mr. Thamilchelvan speaking to the press at the end of the meeting.

Mr Solheim talking to the reporters after the meeting said: "We had a long discussion centering on resuming talks and matters related to the Ceasefire Agreement. Both parties have again expressed their committment to the CFA. However, we expressed our concern that instead of attempting to build mutual confidence both parties are attempting to make statements that irritate the other."

In addition to Eric Solheim, Director General Svein Saether of MFA, Charge d'affaires Oddvar Laegreid, Advisor Solfrid Lien, Second Secretary Tom Knappskog participated in the Norwegian delegation.

Secretary General of the LTTE peace secretariat Mr. Pulidevan, Ms. Selvi Karthikeyan, Head of Thamil Eelam Police, Mr. P. Nadesan, and Mr. George accompanied Thamilchelvan to the meeting.

Norwegian delegation returned to Colombo in a Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) helicopter from Kilinochchi playground located behind the LTTE peace secretariat building.