Press conference held at the closing of Session 2
3 December 2002
 

ERIK SOLHEIM (Moderator): On behalf of the two delegations, the delegation of the Government of Sri Lanka and the delegation of Tigers of the Tamil Eelam, we would very much like to wish you all welcome to this Press Conference.

Let me first introduce the chief negotiators of the two sides and the Head of the Peace facilitating team.

To start closer to me...Anton Balasingham, the Head of the LTTE delegation to the North, G L Peiris, the head of the Government of Sri Lanka negotiation team...in the middle is Vidar Helgesen, Deputy Foreign Minister of Norway and Head of the Norwegian team.

VIDAR HELGESEN: Thank you very much.  I’d like to start by saying that we’ve had four days of very hard work, very straightforward language but a very soft voice.

The parties demonstrated a positive, pragmatic and conciliatory approach in discussing a wide range of issues, including present challenges as well as matters relating to long-term solutions.  The parties thereby continued the dual approach of moving step by step towards a lasting political settlement, while remaining fully focused on the ground situation.  The parties reconfirmed their strong commitment to the Ceasefire Agreement and their support for the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission.

Against the backdrop of recent tensions among the ethnic communities in the east, the parties agreed on immediate measures to improve the security situation, inter-ethnic co-operation and respect for human rights in the North and East.

Acknowledging that peace belongs to all peoples of Sri Lanka, the parties are committed to accommodate the needs and aspirations of all three communities – Tamils, Muslims, and Sinhalese.  The agreed measures are outlined in a separate statement issued by the Royal Norwegian Government on 1st November.

In their determination to move the peace process forward, the parties reiterated that the process will be a long and demanding one.  Throughout the process, the parties will continuously monitor the ground situation, thus enabling necessary action to be taken at all stages to ensure further progress.

In the quest for a final settlement, a broad range of issues must be addressed with considerable attention to detail.  For this purpose, the parties agreed on establishing, whenever needed, sub-committees to act on specific matters under the auspices of the negotiating teams.  The sub-committees will be continually active and report at the sessions of the talks, in order to accelerate progress and give in-depth attention to issues.

Following the agreement from the first session of talks to set up a joint task force, the parties agreed to establish this in the form of a Sub-Committee on Immediate Humanitarian and Rehabilitation Needs in the North and East.  The role of the Sub-Committee will be to:

• Identify humanitarian and rehabilitation needs
• Prioritise implementation of activities to meet these needs
• Decide on the allocation of the financial resources for such activities
• Determine implementing agencies for each of the activities.

The Sub-Committee will ensure the involvement of all ethnic communities so that their needs and aspirations are considered, and it will give priority to the mobilisation of local labour and local institutions in the implementation of activities.  The activities initiated by the Sub-Committee will be financed by a fund, which will be set up in accordance with arrangements to be agreed upon with donor governments.

The Sub-Committee will consist of four members selected by the LTTE and four by the Government of Sri Lanka.  Two members of the respective negotiating teams, Mr. Thamil Chelvam of the LTTE and Mr. Bernard Goonetileke of the Government of Sri Lanka, will be leading members of the Sub-Committee.  Other Government representatives will include Mr. M.D.D. Peiris, Mr. M.I.M. Rafeek, and an additional member of the Muslim community.  Other LTTE representatives will include Mr. Jay Maheswaran and two other members.  The Sub-Committee will be assisted by a secretariat to be located at the Government Agent’s Office in Killinochchi.  Meetings of the Sub-Committee will be held in Killinochchi, Colombo, Batticaloa, and Kalmunai at the discretion of the committee.

As its first task the Sub-Committee will assist the Royal Norwegian Government in preparing for a political-level meeting of key governments to take place in Oslo, Norway on 25 November 2002.  As the first ever of its kind, the meeting will demonstrate the unprecedented level of international support to Sri Lanka and to the parties in their present peace efforts.  The meeting will aim at mobilising financial support for immediate humanitarian and rehabilitation action in three priority areas agreed to by the parties:

• Resettling and rehabilitating Internally Displaced Persons (and that includes the need for massive de-mining action)
• Rehabilitating war-affected women and children
• Providing livelihoods for war-affected people in the North and East.

The international community will further be encouraged to increase investment in Sri Lanka and respond positively to new challenges in the south resulting from the peace process.

In line with the overall objective of facilitating the resettlement of internally displaced persons, the parties acted on the decision made at the first session of peace talks to address matters relating to high security zones and other areas made inaccessible to the public.  To this end, a Sub-Committee on de-escalation and normalisation was set up as a mechanism for a structured dialogue between the parties.  While accommodating the security concerns of each party, the Sub-Committee will examine ways and means to ensure resettlement, the return of private property and the resumption of economic activities in these areas.  This Sub-Committee will include high-level civilian and military personnel on both sides, including Mr. Austin Fernando of the Ministry of Defence and Mr. Karuna of the LTTE.

As another issue relating to the restoration of normalcy, the status of Tamil prisoners held under the Prevention of Terrorism Act was discussed.

The parties remain committed to building peace on the ground through practical steps to improve security and opportunity in people’s daily lives.  At the same time, the parties acknowledged that the peace talks must address a series of complex political questions in order to reach a negotiated solution to the ethnic conflict, including constitutional, legal, political and administrative issues.  Following discussions, the parties agreed to establish a Sub-Committee to commence work in connection with relevant political matters.  The parties agreed that access to expertise on political matters will be important in order for them to enter into negotiations on issues central to the peace process.  The parties will jointly and separately address in depth, at the current stage of the peace process, relevant subjects such as other peace processes, political solutions to ethnic conflicts, models and systems of government, issues of post-conflict transition, co-ordination of international assistance, and reconciliation processes.  To this end, the parties will interact with relevant experts and practitioners in these fields, as a basis for the formulation of approaches to the critical political issues for consideration in the future sessions of the peace talks.

The Sub-Committee on Political Matters will be chaired by the heads of delegations of the peace talks, Mr. Anton Balasingham and Mr. G.L. Peiris.  Other government representatives will include Mr. Rauff Hakeem, leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress.

The third session of talks will take place on December 2 – 5, 2002 in Oslo, Norway.  The following sessions will be held on January 6 – 9, 2003, February 7 – 10, 2003, and March 18 – 21, 2003.

That concludes the statement and I’d like to conclude with what is the actual headline of that statement namely that all these activities, all that hard work put in over these four days have added up to significant steps to restore normalcy, improve security and address political matters.  Thank You.

V S SAMBANTHAN, THE HINDU: There has been much pressure in recent times on the Government’s peace efforts and also there has been a lot of disturbing happenings in Sri Lanka for the past four days.  What kept you all together despite all the pressures?  Same question to both of you.

ERIK SOLHEIM (Moderator): May I ask Professor Peiris also to give a very brief introduction from your point of view as to what has been achieved during these four days and afterwards Mr. Balasingham will follow up?

G.L. PEIRIS: To answer your first question the...you asked...well, what was it that kept us together during these three days, I would say that it was a firm commitment to the objectives of the peace process.  Whatever snags or impediments may arise, we were clearly determined to stay on course and that was apparent from the manner in which we handled the discussions.  As to the other matter, we were not responding to any pressure from any source whatsoever, we had a certain structure in our minds with regard to the peace process.  And we were always convinced that sequence was just as important as substance so we began by addressing the issues connected with rehabilitation, humanitarian problems which were obviously crying out for attention.  That was to our minds the logical point of departure to try to make life easier and better.

Then of course in due course as we were getting to grips with other matters we had necessarily to focus on the political dimension.  And that is why we decided to appoint a political affairs, political matters committee which was co-chaired by Mr. Anton Balasingham and myself and includes my colleague the honourable Rauff Hakeem.  So that is a mechanism to address the political matters on the basis of which a negotiated settlement will be arrived at in due course.

I was also invited by Mr. Erik Solheim to give you a brief description of the progress made during this session.  I think what is remarkable is the completeness of the deliberations.  That is we addressed three major areas which are central to this process.

Firstly, security related issues.  The benefits that we enjoy now in Sri Lanka are the direct result of the stability on the ground – the consequence of the ceasefire agreement that was signed on the 22nd of February.  Now we need to consolidate that, to identify the sources of tension and to make certain that we deal with those matters.  So we set up a committee consisting of 18 persons (9 from each side), Mr. Karuna was going to receive the Head of the STF, the honourable Rauff Hakeem was going to discuss with Mr. Karuna matters pertaining to the security of the East, we were going to strengthen the monitoring mechanism and also consolidate the peace committees which have been set up...all these matters relate to security and the strengthening of the Ceasefire arrangements.

Then the second aspect is the economic side of things.  To prepare for the donor’s conference in Oslo on the 25th of November, to be ready with our plans so that we can inspire the confidence of the donor community, to focus on the need to utilise substantial resources for addressing the urgent rehabilitation and humanitarian concerns.  And this committee consisting of eight people (four from each side) will actually meet before the Norway sessions.

And the final matter is the political side of things and that was the committee which I referred to.  So, all three of the critical aspects – the security aspect the economic aspect and the political aspect – have been fully addressed and that is why we say that we have very good reason for satisfaction with the outcome of the second session.

ANTON BALASINGHAM: I need not repeat what Prof. Peiris has explained...I think he has very clearly explained the nature of the dialogue and also our serious and sincere commitment to the peace process.

And I would like to ask the Hindu reporter what he means by some disturbing events that have taken place in Colombo.  If that is so, so much interest to him.

HINDU: Excuse me, the incidents I was referring to were - one, Sinhalese-Muslim clashes in Colombo, the jail sentence on Mr. Prabhakaran and the arrest of LTTE cadres with arms.  Those were the three I was referring to.

ANTON BALASINGHAM: Yes. Of course as Professor has said, we have been discussing about the communal clashes that have taken place in Valachchenai and other places, and Mr. Karuna and Mr. Hakeem have discussed those matters in depth and certain agreements have been reached to resolve those problems.

And secondly with regard to sentence passed on Mr. Prabhakaran, we have already expressed our deep dismay over the sentence...it has come out at this critical stage when both the parties are engaged in a positive dialogue.  And I would say the two hundred years of sentence is rather ridiculous.  And further more I wish to say that it is unfair on the part of the government of Sri Lanka, particularly the judicial system to dig into the events of the past.  Particularly the military operations undertaken by the LTTE, as far as we are concerned both the parties have involved in military operations which can be characterised as acts of war and not criminal offences as such.  So, we will request the Government of Sri Lanka, particularly the judicial system not to take up these questions in future, because we will also, if we are compelled to, take up such cases in our courts of law and pass very very long sentences, may be 2,000 years or something like that.

ERIK SOLHEIM (Moderator): Next question from the BBC...

HINDU: There is one more point not answered...

ERIK SOLHEIM (Moderator): Sorry, no more will be taken from this floor you know...I’m going to give the chance to someone else, you’ll get the floor later, and then you’ll be able to speak.

FRANCES HARRISON – BBC: You talked about Economic Sub-Committee giving priority to local institutions.  What would that mean in rebel territory?  Would that mean giving priority to TRO (Tamil Rehabilitation Organisation) and other LTTE organisations?

And specifically, when you talked about a committee to look after war affected women and children, would that also address the problem of de-mobilisation of child soldiers?

And also, when you talked about the PTA detainees, what did you resolve on that issue?

ANTON BALASINGHAM: Yes, when we referred to the local institutions certainly we refer to local NGOs who have bee actively engaged in rehabilitation work for the last so many years particularly TRO has played a significant role in that aspect.

And secondly your question with regard to the de-mobilisation of child soldiers, we wish to emphasise that we do not recruit any under-aged persons, following the conventions of the United Nations requesting of countries and non-state actors not to recruit children below the age of 18, and we have been releasing quite a large number of young persons – under-aged persons – and we have handed them over to their parents.  So, there is no phenomenon as ‘child soldiers’ in the North East now.

And of course there are orphanages and other welfare centres we are operating in the North and East and we are going to address these problems and we are determined to seek foreign assistance to promote the welfare of these children affected by war.

G L PEIRIS: The third one was about the PTA...people held under the PTA...PTA.

ANTON BALASINGHAM: Ah, yes.  We had a very comprehensive discussion with regard to the Tamil political prisoners held under the PTA and a large number of prisoners have been released and still there are about 193 prisoners out of whom about 75 will be released according to the assurance given by the Government.  And the other cases will be taken up as individual cases.  So, we are satisfied with the assurance given by the Government and hope that these prisoners will be systematically released.

G.L. PEIRIS: If I may make a short comment, there were three points there.  The first was about implementing agencies with regard to development projects.  The clear structure that we agreed to was that this would be determined by the committees set up by the two negotiating teams.  That is, this committee will be responsible for allocating resources, selecting priority projects and also choosing the institution that would implement each project.  Obviously it would variate from case to case.  It may be road, it may be an irrigation system, a school, so there would not be one implementing body and the committee will decide who should implement each project as cheaply and as rapidly as possible.

The second point was about children and women.  That is an essential aspect of any rehabilitation and humanitarian programme.  We are very concerned about employment issues, gender issues and the protection of children.  That is very much a priority in regard to the whole gamut of rehabilitation and humanitarian activities.

The third point with regard to the people held under the PTA, as Dr. Balasingham said, the agreement is to expedite these matters entirely within the context of the legal system of the country and substantial progress has been made.  We will be evaluating that.  And the parties have agreed on a methodical way of proceeding to deal with this issue.  Thank You.

WATSON, MEDIACAST, SINGAPORE: e have been told after the second round of talks that a committee will be looking into the rehabilitation and resettlement and reconstruction of the North and East of Sri Lanka.  But...we know that after the first round of talks in Sattahip, Mr. Anton Balasingham emphasised and re-emphasised the importance of setting up interim administration there.  And if this kind of arrangement, that is, a committee looking into the resettlement and reconstruction, is going on for a long time, the people there are not going to be benefited in a great extent.  So, how far is the plan to set up, or how soon the interim administration would be set up in the North and East?

Is Mr. Anton ready to delay this for many years or are you very much particular that it should be set up soon?

ANTON BALASINGHAM: It is true that we were contemplating on forming an interim set-up or a transitional administrative set-up, but at the same time we are also concerned with taking up core issues as early as possible.  And as we have seen we have appointed a political affairs committee whose objective is to explore various models and systems of government...and we need to seek the advice of the international experts and resource persons on how various governments at various times have resolved ethnic conflicts temporarily as well as permanently.  So, we have to study those aspects and we have to spend quite a lot of time in exploring these aspects and making visits to different countries and consulting and interacting with scholars and we will be working on the core issues.  So, we will not be bogged down to any particular set of framework as such.  So, once this sub-committee on rehabilitation is established, we will straight away enter into a process of engaging our selves with the core issues.  It doesn’t mean that we are going to abandon the idea of an interim set-up, but if we feel that an interim set-up is crucial, then we will definitely look into that framework.

G.L. PEIRIS: I think there is nothing sacred about any particular model.  The first thing is to deal with the humanitarian and the development oriented issues.  Now, the event on the 25th of November in Oslo will, I think, encourage everybody.  It is a political event.  The representation is at a very high political level people like Richard Armitage of the United States, Clare Short of the United Kingdom and so on.  Now, the money that is generated in Oslo will be immediately used, it will be immediately injected into the system, it will be rapidly spent. And the results will be evident for all to see.  It will result in an immediate upliftment of living conditions of people up and down the country.  So, that’s the first thing to do.  There’s no doubt about that.  Then as we proceed to address the political and constitutional issues as Dr. Balasingham said, there’s no need to feel constricted and tied-down to any particular model.  It all depends on the circumstances.  We can borrow from different systems, we can contemplate a combination of elements drawn from different models and as we engage in that task we may or may not work through an interim arrangement.  If we think that an interim arrangement is going to help us to achieve the ultimate objective, certainly, then we will make use of that mechanism, as he said, drawing from the experience of other countries.  South Africa for an example has an interim arrangement.  But there are other situations where it has been possible to plunge directly into the elements of the final solution.  So if we feel able to do that without any impediment, there’s no reason why we should not consider that modality as well.  So, there is flexibility with regard to the modalities for achieving our objective.  Our objectives are clear.  And in order to make final decisions with regard to this matter we will engage in the kind of research and reflection that we both believe to be necessary to resolve this matter at the political level.

MOHANDAS - UNITED NEWS of INDIA: I understand temporary time frame has been set on setting up a committee on reconstruction and rehabilitation and that committee is going to meet to be in the Oslo summit.  My question is...at any time whether you have assessed...what is the quantum of money you require for the purpose?

G.L. PEIRIS: We have not quantified that.  We are going to the donors indicating broad areas of activity which we are interested in.  We are not going to them on the basis that we need a certain sum of money.  We will raise these issues we have preliminary indications of encouraging support.  We will of course prioritise the projects.  We will decide where to start.  So, it is not a specific sum of money which we have agreed upon rigidly quantified.  I don’t think that’s the way to set about it, in fact it would be counterproductive.

AMAL JAYASINGHE FROM AFP, COLOMBO: I would like to ask both Professor and Dr. Balasingham...both of you are in this political sub-committee heading them.  And when you are talking about looking at models and systems, are there any particular models and systems that you would look at more than others...do you have any kind of a list of prioritised...and also, are you looking at judiciary and non-military kind of models?

ANTON BALASINGHAM: I think we will be looking at systems and models of self-government and particularly confine to the theoretical dispose of self-determination – internal self-determination.  We will focus our attention on how ethnic conflict...ethnic conflict...ethnic conflict has been resolved by providing a...by providing...and accommodating the problems of the national minorities in certain systems of governance.  So, we will be particularly looking at federal and confederal models and...further than that I don’t want to discuss that matter at this stage.

G.L. PEIRIS: I think we should not be slaves to labels.  We will not work in terms of compartments or straight jackets.  We will look at models that can give us guidance in resolving these difficult issues.  For example, the Charlottetown Agreement in Canada which has I think particular reference, I have discussed this many times with my colleague the honourable Rauff Hakeem, it had particular reference to the circumstances in the Eastern Province.  We have the Bougainville Agreement in Australia, closer home there’s the Chittagong Hill Tracks Agreement in Bangladesh, then of course the Good Friday Agreement which has attracted a great deal of attention all over the world in relation to a negotiated settlement for Northern Ireland whatever the problems may be there, the agreement has worked up to a point it has created difficulties.  So we will look at this whole range of solutions which have been worked out in different countries always adapting those solutions to suit these special circumstances of our own country.  We must have the creativity and the elasticity to do that.  At the same time we believe that we don’t need to re-invent the wheel.  We can derive considerable profit and advantage from the experience of others.  So, that is very much the spirit in which we propose to approach the work of the political matters sub-committee.

VINEETHA WICKREMANAYAKE OF TRANS ASIA NEWS SERVICE: Dr. Balasingham, to make the peace process stronger, don’t you have the intention of joining the democratic process of Sri Lanka?

ANTON BALASINGHAM: Of course this is...the ultimate aim of the LTTE is finally to enter into the democratic, political mainstream.  Because we are working on a...we are aiming at a political solution, a final solution where the LTTE can enter into a democratic, political framework.  That is the objective of the peace process itself.  There’s no...you shouldn’t have any doubt about it.

G.L. PEIRIS: I think the very fact that the LTTE is here taking part in a media briefing such as this, indicates more convincingly than any words could do, that they are engaged in a transformation into...into a political organisation.  They are getting to grips with political realities, political tensions, political complexities and the best example of that is what is happening in this very room today.

INTER-PRESS SERVICE: Two questions – one to Prof. Peiris and then to Dr. Balasingham.

Prof. Peiris, there are calls in Colombo for a human rights expert to be present at the talks to give the human rights issues a central seat that should to be discussed.  Now that you have committed to look at the political issues of conflict resolutions, will we see a human rights expert present at the next round of talks or by when would you want a person like that?

And to Dr. Balasingham...given that you are also now discussing politics and the transformation of the Tamil Tigers into a political body...and you’ve just commented that the final aim of the Tamil Tigers is to enter the democratic mainstream...will that mean you will permit voices of dissent and voices within the Tamil society who might disagree with the Tamil Tigers to participate in political binding in the Northern and Eastern Provinces?

ANTON BALASINGHAM: Yes, the question of allowing a human rights resource person in the political negotiations we have decided to allow an expert as early as possible.  May be the next session of talks we might invite an expert, one Mr. Ian Martin from the Amnesty International.  He has decided to help us.  And definitely any framework that we are going to work will incorporate human rights norms. 
And secondly, we will have to enter the way of...since we are committed to enter the political mainstream (which is of course a democratic political mainstream) we have to accept and accumulate other political groups and allow them free exercise in the electoral processes.  So we will definitely allow other political parties and groups to participate in the democratic politics in the North and East.

G.L. PEIRIS: The Government of Sri Lanka has been very happy about the participation of Amnesty International, they wrote to us and we readily agreed to their request.  And the involvement of Mr. Ian Martin is a matter that we have no problems with at all in fact we are enthusiastic and happy about it.  I think I might also point out that part of the mandate of the sub-committee on immediate humanitarian and rehabilitation needs is to utilise the resources that are raised in Oslo and later on in Tokyo, entirely in accordance with human rights standards.  So that is a norm which both sides have accepted without reservation the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have both subscribed to that principle regarding the application of international human rights standards.  So, that is not an issue because we both believe that there’s no conflict between the conflict resolution dimension and the human rights dimension.  If you want to solve a problem like this and if the solution is to stand the test of time, obviously, the solution has to be predicated on respect for and enforcement of human rights.

HINDU: This question is for Mr. Helgesen.  Oslo’s role as the peace facilitator has had a lot of remarks from Sri Lanka – from the opposition, from a lot of people.  But you managed to stay on and brought them on to the second round.  How do you see the talks progressing and how do you see it from now?

VIDAR HELGESEN: We see the talks progressing remarkably well and they follow on actions taken on the ground by the parties from the outset of the ceasefire agreement which has also been working remarkably well.  We do see the determination by the parties to overcome obstacles, that is very impressive.  And we see a tone between the parties that is really really constructive.  So I believe that the parties have exceeded expectations even though the ceasefire agreement and the state of relative peace in Sri Lanka has created expectations the parties have so far in the two sessions of talks exceeded expectations as to where they have come.  Now, what has been agreed to here is on paper that needs to be implemented with vigour, and I have no doubt that the parties are determined to do so.

When it comes to Norway’s role we are prepared to stay on course.  We operate purely on the mandate given to us by the parties to facilitate peace talks.  We welcome frank discussions about our role we are prepared to enter into a dialogue with anyone who might be critical about our role.  But of course it shows having a mandate you must relate to the parties to the talks.  And we are prepared to stay on course with them.

QUESTION: It is clear that the negotiating teams have come up with something substantial in this round of talks.  Do you feel comfortable that your government can sell the ideas that were endorsed here to the Southern Sri Lankan community?

G.L. PEIRIS: Oh yes.  We have no doubt about that whatsoever.  If one thing is evident about the political situation in Sri Lanka today, it is the overwhelming support for the peace process.  People have a very deep desire, a very deep yearning for peace in our country.  They have realised that that is the source from which everything will flow. Increased investment, trade, tourism...all of this.  And as to that we have no doubt at all and whatever noises may be made at the fringes, we will definitely stay on course because we know for a fact that mainstream public opinion is firmly and solidly behind us.

QUESTION: Mr. Balasingham, it seems that you are very satisfied with everything.  Is there anything...ANYTHING that you wish from the Government that you could reveal here that has not come forward yet?

ANTON BALASINGHAM: The only thing I can say is...we are satisfied so far with the two sessions and that the peace process is an ongoing process and whatever we are not happy will be taken up in the due course of time.  Of course there are few issues that we want the Government to implement as early as possible particularly the release of Tamil political prisoners and also the speeder implementation of the terms and petitions of the ceasefire.  So, there are issues which both parties have agreed to work on and if there are difficulties and if there are...if we are not very satisfied with an issue we can take it up at the next session.

UDAYAN NEWSPAPER: My question is to Mr. Balasingham.  Whether you will attend and address the Donor-Country Meeting at the end of this month and if so, whether you will meet and discuss with Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe.

ANTON BALASINGHAM: Yes, if I have an opportunity of meeting the Prime Minister of Sri Lanka I will be very pleased to meet him.  And I will also make an address at the Donor conference explaining the conditions of existence of our people in the North and East and also explaining the importance of giving assistance from the donor countries.  And the most important thing is that if a meeting is arranged between me and the Prime Minister, we will welcome it and we will definitely be pleased to meet him.

G.L. PEIRIS: Yes, I may just add that Prime Minister Ranil Wickremasinghe will certainly attend the meeting in Oslo on the 25th of November and I’m sure he will have the opportunity of discussing matters with Dr. Anton Balasingham.

NEWS ASIA: I would like to ask a question from Dr. Anton Balasingham, what your assessment is from inside the peace negotiation as to how a long partnership are we looking at.  I realise you are just at the beginning...but I think everyone in Sri Lanka is probably encouraged by the unusually rapid progress so far.  From inside are we talking about many years still left to negotiations before the people in the Sri Lanka can have some kind of a solution presented to them?  And if so, will the ceasefire under these conditions pull on that long?

ANTON BALASINGHAM: You know that the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka is a very complex and intractable problem and that we were also engaged in a violent and brutal war for the last 20 years.  And one shouldn’t expect a quick solution to a very complex issue with a very long and complex history.  But since the...we have a...since the declaration of ceasefire, for the last eight months, I can assure you that the ceasefire is falling on and that a stable peace has been established.  And since we have engaged in political negotiations in Thailand we have achieved remarkable success in a very short time.  And it will be difficult for us to give a time frame for peace negotiations because it will be imprudent on my part to spell out a particular time frame whether this solution can be reached within a particular period.  But at the same time both parties are sincerely and seriously committed to peace and we will make every endeavour to see that a final and a permanent settlement is reached without much delay.  And I hope that Prof. Peiris would also agree with me on that.

G.L. PEIRIS: Yes, I certainly agree with that.  Many of the governments that will be coming to Oslo have already indicated to us that the progress during the first two sessions is far in excess of what they expected.  I agree with Dr. Balasingham that given the history of this matter, its complexity, it would be naïve; it would be unrealistic to except very rapid progress in a matter of weeks or months. At the same time, as we approach each milestone, we are looking back reflecting on what we have achieved.  Whether we are satisfied with that, whether anything more needs to be done, what are the anomalies or the deficiencies in the process as we conceive it...so we are engaging that process of assessment and evaluation at every point.  We did in fact on this occasion till the second session and that is how we propose to proceed so that although it is obviously going to take sometime, at every stage we will have tangible results achieved.  We will have something under our belts as if it were, each time.

VIDAR HELGESEN: I think it’s of some importance to call for patience and to repeatedly state – ‘this is going to take time’.  The parties in Sri Lanka are now looking ahead towards peace, and the prospects look good. In a number of peace processes over the last decade, if one tries to look back at them, one will see that really they took time even though at one stage they looked good some of them derailed as well.  Middle East for ten years (there have been efforts), Northern Ireland has taken many years, looks very good but not out of the books yet...

So I think we need to be clear that the parties need to do through work, they need to really go down to the details...the sub-committees are a means of addressing pricky issues in detail...there is a need to address these issues step by step not to escape but to actually go through them...that will take time.  And as the political negotiations are on the table, will take time, there is a need similarly, simultaneously to work on the ground to build confidence between the parties, to increase their level of trust day by day and to restore normalcy to people.

And that is exactly the approach these parties are taking.  So, whether or not it will take one or two or three or four or seven or ten years to reach a final settlement, as long as it moves forward.  That is really the important thing.

QUESTION: Dr. Balasingham, on your move towards entering the democratic mainstream, there have also been a lot of people in Colombo living under the fear of death threats by the LTTE.  They fear that they are victims of the LTTE.  What would be your message to them?

And the composition of the Tigers appears to be changing with the issues that are coming up.  Will we see this happening in the future as well?  Would you be deciding the team on round by round basis?

And to Prof. Peiris my question is...given the present structure of the government do you think the President’s confidence would be gained on all what you are doing here?

ANTON BALASINGHAM: The first question is very unfair because we are not sending any death threat to anybody, but we might consider sending you one soon.

The other question is...of course the process of politicisation and democratisation is taking place in the North and East.  The LTTE cadres have gone into the army controlled areas and they have set up offices and they are doing campaigning among our people and intense political work is being done in the North-East.  That is a clear indication that reflects the transition from military offensive operations into active political work.  So that is a very positive development that is taking place.

This is going to be the main composition.  I think, Mr. Thamil Chelvam, Mr. Karuna and myself will be the main persons in the peace process.  I don’t think there would be any changes.

G.L. PEIRIS: As to the question that was put to me...the president has frequently reiterated her support for the peace process.  She has said that it is she who initiated in the first instance and that she wishes the peace process well, there was a statement to that effect which was made by her spokesman about three or four days ago and just before we began this session.  And I’m certain that the progress that we have made in each of these areas – the economic, rehabilitation humanitarian sphere (that’s one), two – the political sphere which is very important in terms of a final solution and three – the reduction of tension, de-escalation, normalisation in all three areas, it is very difficult to believe that the President’s response would be anything other than support and endorsement.

QUESTION: Mr. Hakeem has been representing the Muslim Congress in the delegation and he has been participating in the talks, but what we’ve come to know is...some of his party members are not in support of certain moves.  So, does he have the support of his own party in these peace talks?  If not I think the peace talks may not be able to progress, unless the party and members of parliament of the same party support this peace process that he is heading and he is educating the Muslim community there if they not be heading towards the right side.  So, what is the position of the party?  Is he representing the Government or is he representing the party? [sic]

ERIK SOLHEIM (Moderator): May I intervene on this person, it’s not fair to have a question on Mr. Hakeem, when he has no right to reply to that person.  But knowing Mr. Hakeem very well, I am sure he will be able to reply to that question afterwards.

G.L. PEIRIS: If you permit me to make a short comment.  You know, all political parties have difference opinion from time to time.  That is in the nature of democratic politics.  So, that is not in any way surprising that problems of that kind should arise from time to time.  But there is no polarisation in the sense that you described.  These nuances have received a great deal of attention during the last few days, we have been able to narrow down some of those differences and even the discussions here during the last three days have gone a long way towards mitigating some of those differences of opinion.  And the problem is not of the scale or the dimension that you implied.

QUESTION: I like to ask from Prof. G.L. Peiris...The Government is heading the peace process but they were unable to bring the 18th and the 19th amendments to the parliament.  So, within one parliament, whether you will be able to proceed and implement the peace process or would you want to get the new mandate from the public, the people of Sri Lanka and go for the new election, because at the last cabinet briefing you said that you plan to go for the new mandate from the Sri Lankan public.

The second question I’d like to ask from Dr. Balasingham...some external forces are working in the East to sabotage the peace process.  Recently an abduction drama was played very well in the East.  So why not you people and the Government unite together and bring these people to law and punish them so that they can’t sabotage the peace process?

G.L. PEIRIS: Well you referred to hung-parliament.  Well there’s no hung-parliament in Sri Lanka.  On the contrary there is a parliament where the government continues to enjoy a very substantial majority.  You don’t have to take my word for it.  The Sri Lankan budget is being present to the parliament next week on the 6th of November.  And the first major vote on it (that is the vote at the end of the second reading) will be on Thursday the 14th (just in a few days time).  This is probably the most important legislative measure in any parliament for the whole year.  Now you will see by what comfortable margin the Sri Lankan budget will be accepted by the parliament of the country.  So that is the litmus test, that is, parliament had solid control over parliament, there’s no political instability in the country, the government is able to decide and implement its policy through parliament.  In such a situation it would be very misleading to speak of a hung parliament.  That is not the situation that exists on the ground at all.

ANTON BALASINGHAM: Its true as far as the second question is concerned...you are complaining that the international subversive forces are in action in the East, disturbing the situation.  We have also heard such reports.  But we haven’t got any concrete evidence as to accuse...accuse which army force is behind such disturbances.  But yet we have discussed this matter at the negotiations and we will be studying the situation to see whether there is any subversive force behind the incidents in the East.

ERIK SOLHEIM (Moderator): Thank you.  Thank you all of you.