05-19-2004, 12:27 AM
Kadigarmar's stand creates suspicion: LTTE
Colombo, May 18 (UNI) Expressing disappointment over Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar's contradictory stand in the peace process, expected to begin shortly LTTE political wing head S.P. Thamilselvam has said that the foreign minister's stand creates suspicion on the fresh peace initiatives made by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
''We expected Kadirgamar to change from his stand following his appointment by the President to an important portfolio in the present government. But his adverse statements on the peace process and on our leadership leave room for us to suspect the peace initiatives made by the President,'' Mr Thamilselvam was reported as saying at a press conference held in Killinochchi this evening after meeting with the visiting Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi.
His announcement comes a couple of days after Kadirgamar, during his official visit to United States, said that the Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA), proposed by the LTTE, is a blue print for a future separate State and it will be difficult for a sovereign government to accept the proposal as a whole.
This is notably against President Kumaratunga's present position conveyed through the Norwegian facilitators to the LTTE last week, that her Freedom Alliance government was prepared to accept LTTE's blueprint Interim Self Rule proposal as the basis for future negotiations with the LTTE, he pointed out.
In another meeting in US, Mr Kadirgamar also expressed his optimism that the new Indian government led by Sonia Gandhi might press on the extradition of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in connection with the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
Colombo, May 18 (UNI) Expressing disappointment over Sri Lankan Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar's contradictory stand in the peace process, expected to begin shortly LTTE political wing head S.P. Thamilselvam has said that the foreign minister's stand creates suspicion on the fresh peace initiatives made by President Chandrika Kumaratunga.
''We expected Kadirgamar to change from his stand following his appointment by the President to an important portfolio in the present government. But his adverse statements on the peace process and on our leadership leave room for us to suspect the peace initiatives made by the President,'' Mr Thamilselvam was reported as saying at a press conference held in Killinochchi this evening after meeting with the visiting Japanese Special Envoy Yasushi Akashi.
His announcement comes a couple of days after Kadirgamar, during his official visit to United States, said that the Interim Self-Governing Authority (ISGA), proposed by the LTTE, is a blue print for a future separate State and it will be difficult for a sovereign government to accept the proposal as a whole.
This is notably against President Kumaratunga's present position conveyed through the Norwegian facilitators to the LTTE last week, that her Freedom Alliance government was prepared to accept LTTE's blueprint Interim Self Rule proposal as the basis for future negotiations with the LTTE, he pointed out.
In another meeting in US, Mr Kadirgamar also expressed his optimism that the new Indian government led by Sonia Gandhi might press on the extradition of LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran in connection with the assassination of former Indian Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi.
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