Norwegian FM to meet Samaraweera in Hong Kong

[TamilNet, Wednesday, 14 December 2005, 15:45 GMT]
Norwegian Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre is scheduled to meet with the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Mangala Samaraweera in Hong Kong on Thursday where he is expected to convey the response from Norway to the Government of Sri Lanka on the Norwegian facilitation of the peace process in Sri Lanka. Norway is expected to press for acceptance of certain terms from both parties regarding the talks, the Norwegian news agency, NTB reported Wednesday.

"We will be happy to take on the role, but there are certain terms concerning our role that need to be clarified," the minister was quoted as saying.

"It is important to resume the negotiations. We therefore wish that Erik Solheim makes a trip to Sri Lanka as early as possible," the Norwegian FM was quoted as saying by the NTB.

Since Norwegian Foreign Minister is attending the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial meet in Hong Kong, Government of Sri Lanka and Norway deemed it practical to hold the meeting in Hong Kong, the report further said.