08-19-2005, 08:21 PM
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<b>Sri Lanka peace talks to resume</b>
<b>The Tamil Tiger rebels have agreed to resume talks with the government to review the country's fragile cease-fire, the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo and a rebel spokesman said Friday.</b>
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have "agreed to discuss the CFA (cease-fire agreement) with the Sri Lankan government," Tom Knappskog of the Norwegian Embassy said. "The willingness to have the talks is there, but no date or venue have been decided."
Tamil rebel spokesman Daya Master, in response to Knappskog's comments, confirmed that an agreement in principle had been reached to hold talks but that no date or venue had been set.
The Tigers have agreed to "participate in a review of the implementation of the cease-fire agreement in order to find practical ways of ensuring full compliance by both parties," the pro-rebel TamilNet Web site quoted senior rebel leader Anton Balasingham as saying.
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga wants to hold direct talks with rebels in an effort to end a spate of political assassinations that have plagued the country, her office said.
The talks will be held in Oslo, Norway, within the next couple of weeks, Balasingham was quoted as saying.
(AP)
<b>Sri Lanka peace talks to resume</b>
<b>The Tamil Tiger rebels have agreed to resume talks with the government to review the country's fragile cease-fire, the Norwegian Embassy in Colombo and a rebel spokesman said Friday.</b>
The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam have "agreed to discuss the CFA (cease-fire agreement) with the Sri Lankan government," Tom Knappskog of the Norwegian Embassy said. "The willingness to have the talks is there, but no date or venue have been decided."
Tamil rebel spokesman Daya Master, in response to Knappskog's comments, confirmed that an agreement in principle had been reached to hold talks but that no date or venue had been set.
The Tigers have agreed to "participate in a review of the implementation of the cease-fire agreement in order to find practical ways of ensuring full compliance by both parties," the pro-rebel TamilNet Web site quoted senior rebel leader Anton Balasingham as saying.
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga wants to hold direct talks with rebels in an effort to end a spate of political assassinations that have plagued the country, her office said.
The talks will be held in Oslo, Norway, within the next couple of weeks, Balasingham was quoted as saying.
(AP)