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"We regard the LTTE as a terrorist organization and do not believe it is the sole representative of the Tamil people of Sri Lanka," said US Ambassador in Sri Lanka E. Ashley Wills in an address at the Jaffna Public Library on Wednesday. The Ambassador was on a two-day visit to Jaffna in northern Sri Lanka. He said that the USA firmly rejects the idea of an independent Tamil state carved out of Sri Lankan territory. "We do not believe Sri Lanka or any part of it is the special preserve of any one ethnic group, indeed we regard Sri Lanka as a multi-ethnic, multi-religious, multi-lingual, multi-cultural state," he stressed. Referring to the on-going peace process, he said that he was hopeful of prospects for peace in the coming months. The US Ambassador also said that various ethnic groups in Sri Lanka have lived together peacefully for many centuries. "All that is needed is to find a mutually satisfactory, contemporary political system to accommodate the island's diversity," he said. Referring to the LTTE, the US Ambassador said that there were encouraging indications in the LTTE's recent conduct. "We hope that the LTTE will continue to refrain from attacking civilian targets and respect the other basic rules of conflict". He called out to the audience to convey two messages to the LTTE from the US Government. "If the LTTE is still fighting for Tamil Eelam, please accept that the goal cannot be achieved," and; "If the LTTE really cares about the Tamil people and about assuring their rights, giving up violence and negotiating are the way to go."
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