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Paris venue for peace talks
By Iqbal Athas
The French capital of Paris will be the venue for resumed peace talks between the Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). The Sunday Times learns that Norwegian facilitators are now making arrangements for this in consultation with the French Government. The move is learnt to have already received the endorsement of the Sri Lanka Government.

As a prelude to the resumption of the seventh round of peace talks, The Sunday Times also learns that the Norwegian facilitators have successfully secured Paris as the venue for a meeting of LTTE legal advisors. Ahead of the next round of peace talks, this meeting in mid- August is expected to discuss the UNF Government's Discussion Document and the LTTE's counter proposals.

As exclusively revealed in The Sunday Times of July 20, the Discussion Document provides for a Provisional Administrative Council with majority membership for the LTTE and full powers. However, it excludes police, security, land and revenue.
The LTTE's counter proposals are to be made available to the Government next week. It is expected to be handed over to Norwegian Ambassador Hans Bratskar who is due to fly to Kilinochchi.

On a tour of Trincomalee last Friday, LTTE Political Wing leader, S.P. Thamilselvan, told a media conference that the proposal submitted by the UNF Government was only a draft. "We have not rejected it but are studying it to add useful and concrete improvements that could satisfy the aspirations of the Tamil people," the Tamilnet website quoted Mr. Thamilselvan as saying.

According to LTTE sources in Wanni, among the counter proposals will be a request to include provisions relating to police, security, land and revenue in areas currently dominated by them - a move which is bound to have far-reaching repercussions.

In effect, such a move would constitute the recognition of a de facto state with the need arising to define boundaries, areas of jurisdiction for police/security and parameters for revenue collection mechanisms.

The LTTE is learnt to have chosen Paris as the venue for a meeting of its legal experts in a bid to persuade its Chief Negotiator and ideologue, Anton Balasingham to take part. Among other venues including Sweden that was considered, Paris is the closest location to London where Dr. Balasingham now lives. He has still not made clear whether he will take part.

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