Co-chairs to meet in Oslo Friday

[TamilNet, Thursday, 27 April 2006, 15:57 GMT]
International Development Minister of Norway, Mr. Erik Solheims is to host a meeting with the representatives of Co-Chairs of Tokyo DonorConference in Oslo on Friday to discuss the peace process which is being threatened by the escalating violence, said a press statement by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

US Assistant Secretary of State, Richard A. Boucher, who heads the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs, which deals with U.S.foreign policy and U.S. relations with South Asian countries, EU'sDeputy Director for External Relations Mr. Hervé Jouanjean and the Japanese Special Envoy Mr.Yasushi Akashi will be attending themeeting in Oslo.

The focus of the meeting is to explore ways to encourage the warring parties, the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigersto respect the Cease Fire Agreement.

"I am very much disturbed by the escalating violence," said MinisterErik Solheim. The International Community would now be meeting toevaluate the dangerous situation on the ground, he said. Theparties are urged to participate in direct talks to cease theviolence, Erik Solheim was quoted as saying in the press statement issued in Norwegian.