Westborg meets Kadirgamar after PA onslaught on Norway
[November 18, 2002  - 9.30 GMT]

Norwegian Ambassador Jon Westborg had discussions with Presidential Advisor Lakshman Kadirgamar on Saturday after the opposition PA expressed their dissatisfaction over the role played by Norway in the on-going peace process.

It is reported that the Ambassador had undertaken to consider initiating regular briefings of opposition MPs on the conduct of the peace talks.

The PA statement issued on Friday said that the Norwegian role as facilitators had been “unjustifiably enlarged” and that Norway was no longer “visibly impartial”. The statement was read out to the media by Kadirgamar himself.

Ambassador Westborg was reminded by the former foreign minister that he had been informed twice before by President Kumaratunga of her dissatisfaction with certain aspects of the peace talks. He was told that the SLFP grassroots organisations had already passed a resolution condemning the Government for its lack of consultation on the political basis of the negotiations, expressing concern over the situation on the Muslims in the north and east, and calling for disarmament of the LTTE before the implementation of any final agreement.

On Friday Minister Milinda Moragoda briefed President Kumaratunga on the outcome of the second round of talks between the Government and the LTTE, which concluded November 3 at the Rose Garden Resort in Thailand. Kadirgamar was also present at the briefing.

Having expressed her concerns regarding the future course of the peace talks, President Kumaratunga made suggestions for widening the process of consultation.

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Last Updated Date: November 18, 2002  - 9.30 GMT.