The United States on Friday welcomed LTTE leader V Prabhakaran's expression of commitment to peace and his support to Oslo-brokered negotiated settlement to end Sri Lanka's 19-year-old ethnic conflict. “We are encouraged by the LTTE's willingness to work within a political process and to renounce violence,” The US embassy said in a statement on Prabhakaran's remarks at a press conference two days ago.
“We also welcome his acknowledgement that the questions of Sri Lankan Muslims must be resolved alongside those of the Tamil people,” The statement said. The US said it had long believed that violence could not achieve the LTTE's stated objectives, and urged him to abandon force unequivocally.
A political solution to the conflict maintaining Sri Lanka's territorial integrity would be welcomed by the international community, and we urge all parties to continue to work towards that goal, It said.
The United States, which has been backing the Norwegian government's peace facilitation efforts, reiterated that it was pleased by the existing cease-fire and the prospects of direct negotiations between the government and the LTTE in May or June. Bureau Report