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LTTE refuses to meet
Govt. delegation in Oslo
[Friday, June 9, 2006-
6.30 GMT]
Press Statement made by GOSL Delegation –
Oslo Talks 08th, 09th June 2006
The LTTE has refused to meet with
the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) delegation after arriving at the
conference venue in Norway.
The GOSL delegation came to Oslo at the invitation of the Royal
Norwegian Government to discuss the operational modalities and
functional attributes of the SLMM. A similar invitation was made to the
LTTE.
Since the safety and security of the SLMM monitors were of prime
concern, the GOSL delegation was looking forward to these talks which
would have been of a technical nature to provide SLMM with the required
assurances. Extensive preparations have been made in advance by the GOSL
delegation for these talks.
The Royal Norwegian Government invited both the GOSL and the LTTE to
attend the meeting in Oslo. The GOSL acceptance of the invitation was
communicated by the Minister of Foreign Affairs on 01 June 2006. The
GOSL also issued a press statement indicating the acceptance of the
invitation for Oslo talks and naming the head of the delegation. The
LTTE left Sri Lanka bound for Oslo having full knowledge of this
position on the 04th of June 2006.
The talks were scheduled for the 08-09 June 2006 at the Thorbjørnrud
Hotel A.S. in Jevnaker near Oslo.
On the 08 June 2006 at 09:00 a.m. the Sri Lankan Delegation was informed
by the Norwegians that the LTTE had declined to meet the GOSL
delegation. The Norwegian government representatives themselves
expressed complete surprise at the stance taken by the LTTE despite all
the background preparations made by the Norwegian facilitators.
The GOSL delegation was also informed that the LTTE had indicated that
the presence of Nationals from Sweden, Denmark and Finland as members of
the SLMM was objectionable as these are nationals of EU member
countries.
The GOSL delegation informed the Norwegian representatives that in terms
of the Status of Mission Agreement (SOMA) had requested the Royal
Norwegian Government to organize and establish the SLMM and “the members
of the mission be recruited from among the citizens of the Nordic
countries” and expressed the view that Nationals from Sweden, Denmark
and Finland, although from EU Member States shall be recruited as
members of the SLMM in their individual capacities.
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Last Updated
Date: June 9, 2006 -6.30 GMT |
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