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Sri Lanka optimistic about talks with LTTE
United Nations, Sept 27: Sri Lanka`s Prime Minister said he was optimistic that his country`s peace process would move forward despite the `temporary impasse` after Tamil separatists walked out of the latest round of negotiations in April.
United Nations, Sept 27: Sri Lanka's Prime Minister said he was optimistic that his country's peace process would move forward despite the "temporary impasse" after Tamil separatists walked out of the latest round of negotiations in April.
Addressing the annual UN General Assembly ministerial meeting, Ranil Wickremesinghe said Friday the island nation's economy has boomed following a cease-fire brokered by Norway last year. Economic growth this year is estimated to reach 6 percent, compared with a better-than-expected 4 percent in 2002 and a contraction of 0.1 percent in 2001.
"After 20 years of conflict, our people are now enjoying the fruits of 20 months of peace," he said. "The success story that Sri Lanka is fast becoming ... demonstrates the value of the support of the international community acting in concert."
The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam had been fighting since 1983 for the creation of a separate state, accusing the majority Sinhalese of discrimination, before signing a cease-fire deal with the government in February 2002 and agreeing to limited autonomy instead of independence.
Since then, political bickering within government ranks has overshadowed the peace process, and the Tamil rebels have hardened their stand even though the truce has held.
The rebels walked out of talks in April, accusing the government of failing to help resettle Tamils displaced by the conflict and saying they won't go back to the table until the government gives them control of an interim administration with wide political and financial powers to run affairs in the island's northeast.
Rebel officials are trying to work out a final proposal among themselves on sharing power with the government. On Tuesday, the rebel officials traveled to a Tiger stronghold to meet with their reclusive leader and hammer out the proposal.
Wickremesinghe said the fact that "they should take so much time and effort (to come up with a final proposal) can be seen as a positive sign." Like in all negotiations of a peace process, we find ourselves today at a temporary impasse at the talks," Wickremesinghe said.
He insisted the peace process was on track.
"Within the next few weeks, we should know the results of a comprehensive review undertaken by the LTTE in response to our earlier proposals regarding an interim administrative arrangement for the north and east of our country.
"We, in turn, will look positively at the proposals put forward by the LTTE and will do everything in our power to keep the peace process moving forward to a successful conclusion," he said.
The PM also thanked the "front-sponsors" - India, the European Union, Japan, Canada, the United States. Sri Lanka received aid pledges totaling US$4.5 billion over four years in a donors' conference in Tokyo in June. Bureau Report
Addressing the annual UN General Assembly ministerial meeting, Ranil Wickremesinghe said Friday the island nation's economy has boomed following a cease-fire brokered by Norway last year. Economic growth this year is estimated to reach 6 percent, compared with a better-than-expected 4 percent in 2002 and a contraction of 0.1 percent in 2001.
"After 20 years of conflict, our people are now enjoying the fruits of 20 months of peace," he said. "The success story that Sri Lanka is fast becoming ... demonstrates the value of the support of the international community acting in concert."
The Liberation Tigers of Tamileelam had been fighting since 1983 for the creation of a separate state, accusing the majority Sinhalese of discrimination, before signing a cease-fire deal with the government in February 2002 and agreeing to limited autonomy instead of independence.
Since then, political bickering within government ranks has overshadowed the peace process, and the Tamil rebels have hardened their stand even though the truce has held.
The rebels walked out of talks in April, accusing the government of failing to help resettle Tamils displaced by the conflict and saying they won't go back to the table until the government gives them control of an interim administration with wide political and financial powers to run affairs in the island's northeast.
Rebel officials are trying to work out a final proposal among themselves on sharing power with the government. On Tuesday, the rebel officials traveled to a Tiger stronghold to meet with their reclusive leader and hammer out the proposal.
Wickremesinghe said the fact that "they should take so much time and effort (to come up with a final proposal) can be seen as a positive sign." Like in all negotiations of a peace process, we find ourselves today at a temporary impasse at the talks," Wickremesinghe said.
He insisted the peace process was on track.
"Within the next few weeks, we should know the results of a comprehensive review undertaken by the LTTE in response to our earlier proposals regarding an interim administrative arrangement for the north and east of our country.
"We, in turn, will look positively at the proposals put forward by the LTTE and will do everything in our power to keep the peace process moving forward to a successful conclusion," he said.
The PM also thanked the "front-sponsors" - India, the European Union, Japan, Canada, the United States. Sri Lanka received aid pledges totaling US$4.5 billion over four years in a donors' conference in Tokyo in June. Bureau Report