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Final solution within united, integral Lanka : Talks focus on power sharing deal

From Arjuna Ranawana in Oslo

The Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on Wednesday continued discussions on a power-sharing deal that aims at solving the core issues of the national question, the Government's Chief Negotiator at the peace talks Minister Professor G.L Peiris said.

He said the negotiating teams were aiming to "finalise a framework for a political solution," by the day's end.

His counterpart, LTTE theoretician Anton Balasingham confirmed that the discussions were heading towards completing a framework for a political solution to what he terms as a 50-year dispute between the State and the Tamil community.

Addressing reporters at the Radisson Plaza Hotel in downtown Oslo on Tuesday night, Prof Peiris called the beginning of the political discussions "most significant - we have reached the point at which the political solution can be addressed".

"This is the crux of the matter," he pointed out.

He said the groundwork for the discussions had been laid by LTTE leader Velupillai Prabhakaran's declaration that his organisation was seeking a solution within a united Sri Lanka.

Earlier in the day Balasingham said that his leader's statement had "set the framework for the core issues to be dealt with".

"We are seeking regional autonomy within a united, integral Sri Lanka," Balasingham told reporters.

Balasingham and Prof. Peiris head the political affairs committee of the peace negotiations and the work of this team assumes more importance now.

Prof. Peiris conceded that there was a "wide gap" between the LTTE and the government with regard to power-sharing but expressed confidence that this could be narrowed through negotiations.

"Now that the framework that whatever solution is reached should be in a united Sri Lanka, the power-sharing is do-able," he said.

"It is now our task to work out the mechanisms by which power can be shared," he said. "It will be a long haul."

The LTTE is being advised on this subject by various groups including a Canadian NGO called the Forum of Federations which is presenting federal and co-federal models for its consideration.

Prof. Peiris and Balasingham had an informal meeting with the Forum at the Radisson Hotel on Tuesday morning.

"We will look at all these models, including those followed by some European countries," Prof. Peiris said.

Several European countries including Sweden have offered help to examine suitable mechanisms for the devolution of power.

"We will not copy any of these models but adapt them to best suit our situation," he said.

The political affairs committee is set to present a report of its deliberations to the next round scheduled to be held in Thailand probably in January.

At the first round of talks both sides decided to postpone discussions on the constitutional issues lest the negotiations get bogged down in a legal and political mire.

The fourth session of the Third Round of talks began last morning with the committees working separately on various issues.

The committee handling security issues were working hard to resolve the Delft issue where the EPDP is installed. On the first day the LTTE and the government agreed that any group could carry out political activities as long as they were not carrying weapons.

Parallel discussions on prioritising areas for attention in reconstruction and rehabilitation of the North-East were also held.

The Third round has six sessions, which are due to end this afternoon. The government, the LTTE and the Norwegian facilitators are due to address a joint press conference after the final session.

The atmosphere at the talks continued to remain cordial despite thorny issues being discussed, observers said.

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