Switzerland welcomes decision to hold talks in Geneva

[TamilNet, Thursday, 26 January 2006, 11:55 GMT]
"Switzerland welcomes the decision by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to hold talks on the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement in Switzerland," and "Switzerland is ready to provide Norway with its utmost support and hopes that the talks can get underway as soon as possible," said a press release issued by the Swiss Government in Berne Wednesday.

Full text of the press release follows:

Talks between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Switzerland

The Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE today agreed to hold talks on the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement in Switzerland. Switzerland welcomes this decision, which represents an opportunity to divert a further escalation of the conflict.

Switzerland welcomes the decision by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to hold talks on the implementation of the Cease Fire Agreement in Switzerland. Moreover, Switzerland acknowledges the endeavours of Norway, which have resulted in this promising outcome.

Switzerland is ready to provide Norway with its utmost support and hopes that the talks can get underway as soon as possible.

In the past two months the violations of the Cease Fire Agreement signed by the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE in February 2002 have increased dramatically. The securing of this agreement is a precondition for future peace talks, which have been suspended since April 2003.

Switzerland supports the peace process under Norwegian facilitation. Therefore, it has declared itself ready that talks between the conflict parties can take place in Switzerland. This offer was made in the framework of the Swiss commitment to support peace, human rights and development in Sri Lanka.