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| Friday, 25 January 2002 |
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Joint ceasefire in place by February 24 The government is hopeful that a fully structured joint ceasefire with the LTTE would be in place before February 24, the date on which extended unilateral ceasefire declared by the LTTE expires, Cabinet spokesman Minister, Professor G.L. Peiris said yesterday. Norway is currently mediating between the two parties with the aim of formalising the ceasefire initially declared by the LTTE and reciprocated on a more systematic and structured footing, the Minister told the weekly Cabinet media breifing at the Parliamentary complex. "The LTTE has agreed to give Norway time to hammer out a formula for a more durable and structured ceasefire. Hence the government agreed to extend its own ceasefire for a further month," Prof. Peiris stated adding that discussions with Norway in this regard are being held in Colombo and London. He said that the focus of the discussions is mainly to identify the flashpoints that would lead to jeopardizing the ceasefire and in trying to draw out solutions. A leading Norwegian delegation headed by special advisor to the Norwegian Foreign Ministry Eric Solhiem has now engaged in shuttle diplomacy between Oslo, London and Colombo. Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen will meet LTTE chief negotiator Anton Balasingham next week to finalise the draft agreement for a mutually agreed ceasefire between the Government and the LTTE, according to a Tamilnet report. The Norwegian delegation is expected here following the meeting for final touches of the agreement, Tamilnet said. Solheim and Kjirste Tromsdal, an official with the same Ministry, met Mr. Balasingham at his residence in London for three hours Tuesday morning. "Their discussion centred on issues pertaining to the formulation of a structured, mutually agreeable ceasefire between the two sides," Tamilnet, quoted its sources. |
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