Thailand talks conclude on positive note, with

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 COLOMBO 001743

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS

NSC FOR E. MILLARD

LONDON FOR POL/RIEDEL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09-18-12
TAGS: PGOV PTER PINS EAID KPAO CE LTTE
SUBJECT: Thailand talks conclude on positive note, with
two sides agreeing to more meetings in coming months

Refs: (A) Ops Center-Colombo 09-18-02 telecon

- (B) Colombo 1739;
- (C) Bangkok 6597
- (D) Colombo 1736, and previous

(U) Classified by W. Lewis Amselem, Charge d'Affaires.
Reasons 1.5 (b, d).


1. (U) This message contains an Action Request --
Please see Para six.


2. (C) Summary: The first round of talks between the
Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers has ended on
a positive note. Per a press statement issued by the
Norwegian facilitators (see Para seven),the two sides
have agreed to form two joint bodies: one to examine
issues related to displaced person resettlement, and one
to focus on stimulating assistance to the war-torn north
and east of the country. The two sides have also agreed
to meet three more times in coming months. Initial
reaction from contacts reinforces our sense that this
first round seems to have provided a positive basis for
future discussions. A draft press statement contained
in para six praising the outcome of the talks is for
Department's review. End Summary.


3. (SBU) Talks between the Sri Lankan government and
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) in Thailand
wrapped up on a positive note on September 18. As
monitored on a live TV feed in Colombo, the concluding
press conference highlighted what seemed to be positive
atmospherics shared between both sides. GSL and LTTE
delegation leaders bantered amiably with the press and
interacted respectfully with each other. In terms of
substance, the two sides basically used the press
conference to reiterate the information contained in the
Norwegian government press statement reviewed below.


4. (U) Based on the Norwegian government's press
statement (contained in para seven),the two sides
reached specific agreement on the following:

-- To form a "Joint Committee" to look into ways to
enable displaced persons to return to their homes in the
north and east. (Note: This body's main focus seems to
be finding ways to ease the return of displaced persons
to their homes located inside or near "High Security
Zones," i.e., areas controlled by the Sri Lankan
security forces in the north and east.)

-- To form a "Joint Task Force" to examine ways of
stimulating increased humanitarian assistance to the
war-torn north and east. One of the tasks of this body
will be "stepping up humanitarian mine action."

-- To meet three more times in coming months on the
following dates:

- October 31 - November 3
- December 2-5
- January 6-9, 2003
(Note: The press statement was not clear on what the
venue of these upcoming talks would be.)
(Note: Despite earlier indications, the two sides
apparently did not reach an agreement on forming a
committee on Missing in Action issues.)


5. (C) Comment: Although there was no agreement on
complicated and controversial substantive issues,
initial reaction from contacts reinforces our sense that
this first round seems to have provided a positive basis
for future discussions. It is way too early to say for
sure, but the GSL -- and the very capable Norwegian
facilitators -- seem to have been successful in hooking
the LTTE into a structured process. Such a process
would allow the two sides to become enmeshed in
discussions of substantive matters, including the
modalities of a possible interim framework and final
settlement of the dispute. All that said, what is
critical for the moment is that the talks seem to have
added to the fast momentum of the peace process. End
Comment.

6. (U) Action Request: Unless otherwise directed by
Department, Mission plans to issue the following press
statement tomorrow (September 19) praising the outcome
of the talks:

Begin text:

The U.S. has carefully reviewed the press statement
issued by the Norwegian government reviewing the results
of the negotiations held between the Sri Lankan
government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam
(LTTE) in Thailand, September 16-18. We praise the
commitment of both sides to sustain the ceasefire, move
forward with the peace process, and work toward a final
settlement of the conflict. In moving forward, it is
positive that the two sides have agreed to a schedule of
meetings in the coming months.

The U.S. also welcomes the decision of both sides to
form joint bodies focused on the return of displaced
persons to their homes, and improving the humanitarian
situation in the north and east. The U.S. is committed
to supporting these vital objectives. We note, for
example, that the Quick Reaction Demining Force (QRDF)
has been in place in Jaffna since April and is scheduled
to continue its work until late October. The U.S. is
also working with the Sri Lankan military on a military-
to-military humanitarian demining program that would
begin shortly after the QRDF's departure.

To conclude, we are hopeful that the negotiating process
inaugurated by the two sides will lead to a permanent
end to the conflict based on the principles of democracy
and respect for human rights, while maintaining Sri
Lanka's territorial integrity. As we have noted before,
we sense that the conditions are favorable for a
desirable outcome. We again salute the Norwegian
government's able facilitation of the talks and the Thai
government for hosting them.

End text.

End Action Request.


7. (U) The following is the text of the Norwegian
government press statement issued in Colombo by the Sri
Lankan Peace Secretariat on September 18:

Begin text:

The first round of formal peace talks between the
Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) and the Liberation Tigers
of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) was held in Sattahip, Thailand,
between 16 and 18 September 2002. The negotiations were
facilitated by the Royal Norwegian Government.

The parties agreed that in their determination to bring
the peace process forward, they are responding to the
overwhelming call of the peoples of Sri Lanka to bring
an end to the ethnic conflict, and create the conditions
for lasting peace, prosperity, and respect for human
rights.

Both parties expressed their resolve to address the full
range of issues pertaining to a lasting political
settlement of the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka, fully
realizing that this can best be achieved by pursuing a
step-by-step approach to the negotiation process. This
approach has proven successful in the establishment and
implementation of the Ceasefire Agreement already in
force since February. The parties recognized the need
for sustaining the Ceasefire Agreement, with the
continued assistance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring
Mission, which the parties commended for its impartial
conduct in the fulfillment of its important mandate.

The parties affirmed their determination to continue
upholding the Ceasefire Agreement and expanding the
range of confidence-building measures over the period
ahead. Building on the achievements of the Ceasefire
Agreement, the parties agreed to establish promptly a
Joint Committee to deal with the issues relating to High
Security Zones, with the aim of enabling the return of
larger numbers of displaced persons to their areas of
origin, thereby facilitating the restoration of
normalcy. This Joint Committee will consist of senior
representatives of both sides, including military
personnel.

The parties discussed in depth the urgent need to
address the difficult humanitarian situation in the
north and east of Sri Lanka. To this effect, the parties
agreed to establish a Joint Task Force for Humanitarian
and Reconstruction Activities. The Joint Task Force will
constitute a partnership between the Government of Sri
Lanka and the LTTE, and will have responsibility for the
identification, financing and monitoring of urgent
humanitarian and reconstruction activities in the north
and east. The task force will operate with due
participation of Muslims, and its work will benefit all
ethnic communities of the North and East. The details
relating to the mandate and structure of the Joint Task
Force will rapidly be finalized between the parties with
the assistance of the Norwegian facilitators. The two
immediate priorities of the parties are (1) stepping up
humanitarian mine action, and (2) accelerating
resettlement and rehabilitation of internally displaced
persons.

The parties expressed their gratitude for the extensive
goodwill of the international community toward the peace
process. They urged donors to provide immediate funding
for humanitarian priorities. This will enhance public
confidence in the peace process and thus contribute to
the further progress in the quest for peace in Sri
Lanka.

The parties agreed that the establishment of the Joint
Task Force is a sign of the increasing level of trust
between the parties, and of their willingness to work
together towards the establishment of a provisional
administrative structure for the north and east.

Recognizing that the way forward is a long and demanding
one, the parties agreed to continuing rounds of
negotiations. The next three rounds of negotiations will
take place on the following dates:

31 October - 3 November 2002
2-5 December 2002
6-9 January 2003

The parties as well as the Norwegian facilitators
reiterated their appreciation to the Royal Thai
Government for their kindness in providing the venue for
the negotiations as well as the generous hospitality
shown to the delegations.
End text.


8. (U) Minimize considered.

AMSELEM