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| Friday, 17 December 2004 |
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Solheim briefs President President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga received Special Envoy of the Royal Norwegian Government Erik Solheim at the President's House yesterday. During the course of the meeting, the President was informed of the closure of the Embassy of Norway following an anthrax scare. She gave immediate orders for the Police to investigate the incident and provide the Embassy personnel the fullest protection, the Office of the President said in a release yesterday. Solheim briefed the President on his discussions with Anton Balasingham in London earlier this month and on his meeting with LTTE political wing leader S.P. Thamilselvan in Kilinochchi on Wednesday. He assured the President that the LTTE remained committed to maintaining the Ceasefire Agreement. However, he urged that both parties should exercise the maximum restraint and refrain from actions that could be interpreted as provocations, especially at a time when peace negotiations were not taking place. The President reviewed developments since the visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister in November and regretted that certain statements and actions had not helped to create a climate of mutual confidence. Nevertheless, she emphasised her readiness to explore all avenues to resume direct negotiations while abiding by the Ceasefire Agreement. The President also reiterated the Government's commitment to negotiate a final settlement along the lines of the Oslo decision of December 5, 2002 and the establishment of an interim authority in that context. It was agreed that Norway will remain in close contact with the Sri Lanka Government on how negotiations could resume. Solheim was accompanied by Charge d'Affaires of the Norwegian Embassy Oddvar Laegreid, Director-General of Global Affairs Svein Saether and other Norwegian officials. Associated with the President were Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Secretary General of the Peace Secretariat Jayantha Dhanapala, and Foreign Secretary H.M.G.S. Palihakkara. |
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