New thrust at Geneva peace talks

• Govt. to seek discussions on core issues within time frame

By Our Political Editor

The Government will propose at the upcoming Geneva talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) that discussions should centre on core issues to the ethnic conflict and that a series of dates be decided on for the issues to be taken up within a specific time frame.

Nimal Siripala de Silva.

It was agreed yesterday, during a workshop for the Sri Lanka delegation, that the matter should be raised by delegation leader Nimal Siripala de Silva when talks begin on October 28. It was also agreed that the delegation will propose a series of dates for future discussions.

Jan Hanssen Bauer

This would be a departure from the earlier practice of only deciding on the next round of discussions. The idea in arranging for a series of dates, a member of the delegation told The Sunday Times yesterday, was to ensure that talks are held within a specific time frame and core issues are tackled during that period.

Although Norway’s Special Envoy Jon Hanssen Bauer and Oslo’s Ambassador Hans Brattskar confirmed with LTTE Political Wing leader, S.P. Thamilselvan that they would attend the talks, an important issue connected with it still remains to be resolved.

That is, the arrangements for an LTTE delegation to pass through Colombo. The Norwegian peace facilitators had conveyed to the Government leaders that the LTTE wanted to check in earlier at a hotel in Negombo and expects to be driven to the tarmac to board a flight. The Government has rejected the proposal on the grounds that only the President, and not even Cabinet ministers were accorded that facility.

Consultations were under way to finalise a mutually acceptable procedure. Both Mr. Hanssen Bauer and Mr. Brattskar were due to leave Colombo on Thursday night. A delayed return to the City prompted Mr. Bauer to return to Oslo early last morning. However, Mr. Brattskar has remained until procedural arrangements are finalized.