10-24-2003, 04:59 PM
Norwegian officer unwanted in Sri Lanka
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has demanded that Major General Tryggve Tellefsen should be removed from the post of leader of the Scandinavian Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)in the country.
In a letter to Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, the Sri Lankan President accuses the Norwegian general of having taken side in the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka.
-We regard Major General Tryggve Tellefsen's behaviour as unsatisfactory with regard to Sri Lanka's security interests, the president's office states in a press release.
The President's press spokesman said earlier in the week that Tellefsen is "totally untrustworthy".
The Norwegian Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that it has full confidence in Tellefsen and the Scandinavian Observer Group.
Observers point out that President Kumaratunga has for a long time opposed her own government's handling of the peace process, which was initiated with Norwegian assistance in order to end the 30-year-long conflict.
Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has demanded that Major General Tryggve Tellefsen should be removed from the post of leader of the Scandinavian Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM)in the country.
In a letter to Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik, the Sri Lankan President accuses the Norwegian general of having taken side in the ongoing conflict in Sri Lanka.
-We regard Major General Tryggve Tellefsen's behaviour as unsatisfactory with regard to Sri Lanka's security interests, the president's office states in a press release.
The President's press spokesman said earlier in the week that Tellefsen is "totally untrustworthy".
The Norwegian Department of Foreign Affairs has stated that it has full confidence in Tellefsen and the Scandinavian Observer Group.
Observers point out that President Kumaratunga has for a long time opposed her own government's handling of the peace process, which was initiated with Norwegian assistance in order to end the 30-year-long conflict.