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| Sunday, 8 December 2002 |
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LTTE team to Geneva : Swiss federal system under study by Ananth Palakidnar A powerful LTTE delegation led by chief negotiator Dr. Anton Balasingham travel to Switzerland this week, to study the Swiss system of Federal government, Sunday Observer learns. In this swift follow-up on the Government-LTTE agreement in Oslo last week, the LTTE delegation will hold talks with political leaders, on the system of devolution of powers, in that country and their experience of Federalism. Under the agreement reached in the second round of peace talks in Nakorn Pathom, Thailand, both the Government and the LTTE, have agreed to explore in detail, models of devolution and power-sharing now in practice in various parts of the world. Dr. Balasingham will be accompanied by LTTE's political wing leader S. P. Thamilchelvan, Colonel Karuna Amman, Dr. Joy Maheswaran and V. Rudrakumar. Earlier at the conclusion of the third round of talks in Oslo Dr.Anton Balasingham renouncing the demand for a separate Tamil state and agreed upon to find a solution to the North-East crisis on the basis of a Federal system. He also said that a Federal system of governance would fulfil the political aspirations of the Tamils who live in the North and the East. The head of the Government delegation in Oslo, Minister G. L. Peiris, responding positively to the LTTE's stance on a Federal system, said that negotiating on the basis of a Federal system would pave way for a settlement to ethnic crisis within the regional integrity of Sri Lanka. After the Swiss tour the LTTE delegates will fly to London, en-route Sri Lanka, sources said. The LTTE has decided to form a committee comprising political and legal experts at an international level to make an elaborate study on the Federal system of governance in various countries and to back them up with necessary findings in order to go ahead with the next round of talks , sources said. Thailand affirms host facilities for peace process Prime Minister of Thailand Thaksin Shinawatra has pledged his country's support for the Sri Lankan peace process and assured host facilities of his country for the smooth continuation of the talks between the Sri Lankan Government and the LTTE. Thai Premier said so when Minister for Economic Reforms, Science and Technology Milinda Moragoda met him in Bangkok, en-route home from Oslo to Colombo, last Friday. The Thai Prime Minister re-emphasized Thailand's commitment for promoting friendship and co-operation between Sri Lanka and Thailand and expressed his gratitude for the sacred Bo-sapling from Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi gifted to the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai, Premier's home town. In response to Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's invitation, Thai leader expressed his keen interest in visiting Sri Lanka next year to coincide with the 250th anniversary of Siam Nikaya and Upasampada. Thai PM also had a frank exchange of views with the Sri Lankan Minister on a range of issues including good governance, people-centered development, the empowerment of the poor through practical reform policies etc. |
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