New Delhi, Nov 18: Norway's special envoy for Sri Lanka's peace process Erik Solheim has conveyed to India his country's inability to continue as mediator between Colombo and the LTTE, as long as the stand-off between the Lankan President and Prime Minister continued

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Solheim, who arrived here yesterday, met Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and other officials and explained to them the latest situation in Colombo after the political uncertainity created by the actions of President Chandrika Kumaratunga, who took over the key portfolios of defence, interior and information and suspended the Parliament early this month.
Solheim had an informal luncheon meeting today with Defence Minister George Fernades and some parliament members during which he explained the Norway government's predicament in carrying forward the peace process between the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE.
Before leaving, Solheim told reporters that India had expressed eagerness towards the early resumption of peace talks to find a negotiated political settlement in the island nation plagued by ethnic strife.
''I have explained Norway's difficulties in carrying on with the peace process due to the rivalry between the main political parties in Sri Lanka. Norway can't do anything in a situation where there is a stand-off between the two political leaders,'' he said.
Notwithstanding the political uncertainity, he said, the LTTE had assured that they would honour the ceasefire which has been on hold for the past 20 months, Solheim said. The monitoring mission has also assured that it would go ahead with its duties.
His meetings with senior Foreign Ministry officials assume significance, as it the first time India has been directly informed of the uncertainties and difficulties faced by the negotiators in taking the peace process forward, due to rivalry between the President and Prime Minister, who are heading a co-habitation government in Sri Lanka.
The Norwegians withheld further participation in Sri Lanka's peace process till political ''clarity is re-established'', putting the island nation's latest peace bid formally on hold.
Bureau Report