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EU member countries of the SLMM, Denmark, Finland and Sweden, are to leave Sri Lanka by the end of the month, due to the LTTE withdrawing security guarantees to its monitors, following the EU banning of the LTTE earlier this year. Despite attempts by Norwegian diplomats the LTTE has not shifted its stance or its deadline regarding the removal of the monitors. The mission is to lose more than half of its 57 members. “Major General Sølvberg’s wide experience and impressive military background will be important assets in his new position as Acting Head of Mission. In spite of the reduction in the number of SLMM personnel, both parties to the conflict have expressed their strong wish for continued SLMM presence. The appointment of Major General Sølvberg is of great importance in the difficult situation we are currently facing,” said Minister of International Development Erik Solheim, in a release.
Citing the intensive military operations and fighting in the North and East of the country the SLMM Head Maj. Gen. Henricsson says the SLMM’s access to combat areas is restricted and therefore he decided to regroup allowing the monitors to focus their full attention on ensuring that the scaled-down mission is safely and securely re-organized under the new Norwegian and Icelandic leadership. The remaining monitors under new the leadership are expected to redeploy to the district offices as soon as the personnel is ready and the situation in each district permits the resumption of secure field monitoring.
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