You told The Sunday Times there were three points on which future talks will begin.

That’s right.

For these three conditions, are you expecting a written assurance from Prabhakaran?

Written or we are saying an assurance, a commitment. That can come in the form of a verbal thing through the facilitator or to the Co-chairs. We have to trust the Co-Chairs and facilitators. If they come out and say this is what Prabhakaran wants, that commitment can come to the government as well.

According to what you say, we are going to lay down three points that the LTTE should make a firm commitment. During the time of the peace talks the LTTE should not use the sea routes for the procurement of arms?

Not only using sea routes, any procurement of arms, training, anything.

Thirdly, the government will reserve the right to respond if the LTTE fires even a single bullet. Is that correct?

That’s right.

When Mr. Bauer comes will the government discuss this?

We have given this on the 14th to Mr. Hans Brattskar. We have explained this to him. We are awaiting a response from the LTTE. The response so far is not very satisfactory. But if there is some direction, we would want an improvement of that.

This means if there is no firm commitment there won’t be any talks?

Because it has been proved. We have to give reasons. The Oslo meeting is a very clear situation. Geneva II is another example. We gave helicopters and they were dodging. They are on a dodging mission. The government is also losing patience.

You need firm commitment from the leadership. In case there is no firm commitment there will be no talks?

Whether we have a firm commitment or not, we have identified and focused on the issue of the north-east. Thereby we have set up the All Party Conference, APC Representative Committee and the panel of experts. They will carry on regardless and we will be inviting Tamil groups to work out a formula and will try to implement that formula. Major political parties are working in one direction to resolve the issue of the Tamils. We have an obligation. We have identified the problems.

What conditions have the LTTE sent?

What they have said is that talks should commence unconditionally. But they also said the offensive must stop. We are not on an offensive. We are responding to their attacks. The other thing is, it must come from Prabhakaran. Thamilselvan and Elilan are down the list. Their statements and commitments do not hold good. We need a commitment from Prabhakaran on the three points given. ‘Unconditional’ does not mean anything to us because when they say unconditional now, in two hours they will impose conditions. There is no point. The word unconditional does not mean anything.

What is the response you have got from the LTTE?

The Response is very positive. They have said they will come for talks unconditionally. With no conditions attached.

What about the three pre-conditions you told The Sunday Times last week? You even mentioned that you needed a clear commitment on those?

In fact, in negotiations you should use milder words. We do not want to go by default.

But, in fact they are conditions?

It’s like this. Now, when we had negotiations in the past everything went by default. Here, we have raised the issues and we believe that we raised the issues strongly. On (August) 8 they said unless Sampur is handed over they will not (come for talks). They are not talking anything about Sampur or Muhamalai, the response is positive in that context.

Have you got the commitment on the three main points you were expecting?

What happens is whatever concerns we raise, once the final one (the right to respond) is there, you can proceed from there. Basically in these negotiations you have to put some diplomacy into it. When the LTTE has agreed unconditionally, whatever concerns we have stand as it is.

The third one which says the government reserves the right to respond to any kind of terrorist activity of the LTTE is important. That is the status quo. We reserved that right, that is what is important. That is the main thing we wanted. In the past we have had the experience. In the past, when there is a cessation of hostilities, within that period you see the induction of arms. Even tomorrow if there is a ship load of arms we will destroy it.

What about the rest of the conditions?

The modalities will be worked out. From the LTTE’s side, there is a very positive sign.

This time, what is the guarantee, as you were looking for a firm commitment from the LTTE?

All what we wanted to have is the status quo. We want to have the right to respond. That is the main thing. All these 23 years, a cessation of hostilities or ceasefire meant that we were restricted to barracks. Anything can happen and you are not supposed to even look at it. We wanted that clarified. So that has been done now.