Reverse deteriorating situation say Co-Chairs [Tuesday, May 30, 2006 - 11.00 GMT]

The Co-Chairs today called on the government and the LTTE to take immediate steps to reverse the deteriorating situation and put the country back on the road to peace. The Co- Chairs met in Tokyo today to asses how they can address Sri Lanka’s crisis and help prevent the sliding back into violence.

In a press statement the Co-Chairs said “the LTTE must re-enter the negotiating process. It must renounce terrorism and violence. It must show that it is willing to make the political compromises needed for a political solution within a united Sri Lanka. This solution should include democratic rights of all peoples of Sri Lanka.  The international community will respond favourably to such actions; failure to do so will lead to deeper isolation of the LTTE.”

Saying the current situation in Sri Lanka gave cause for grave concern, the Co-Chairs concluded that the ingredients for a peaceful settlement remain present. The majority in Sri Lanka still seek peace.

According to the release Norway has prepared a number of initiatives, for the parties to return to talks, to be issued shortly, which the Co-Chairs have endorsed.

The European Union, Japan, US and Norway, all renewed their commitment to help Sri Lanka in a manner that promotes peace and to support the current Norwegian-facilitated peace effort. According to the release other countries and organizations share this view and wish to support the Co-Chairs’ effort. To this end, the Co-Chairs will explore interest for allocating tasks to other groups of countries to improve the efficiency of work within the areas defined by the participants in the Tokyo Conference three years ago.

They noted the international community can only support but cannot deliver peace and that peace can only be delivered by Sri Lankans themselves, saying “the Co-Chairs’ role can be meaningful only where those parties want to help themselves in bringing peace with commitment and honesty.”

The Co-Chairs reiterate their support for the important role of Norway as facilitator to the peace process and the ceasefire monitoring activities of Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in an increasingly difficult situation. They are to examine how to strengthen the role of SLMM.

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Last Updated Date: May  30, 2006 -11.00 GMT