Norwegian envoy cautiously optimistic that

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 COLOMBO 000722

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR SA, SA/INS; NSC FOR E. MILLARD

PLEASE PASS TOPEC

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05-05-14
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER CE LTTE
SUBJECT: Norwegian envoy cautiously optimistic that
GSL-LTTE peace talks on track to resume

Refs: Colombo 714, and previous

(U) Classified by Ambassador Jeffrey J. Lunstead.
Reasons 1.5 (b,d).


1. (C) SUMMARY: The Norwegian delegation found both
the Government and the Tigers ready to resume peace
negotiations. Much preparatory work is needed before
negotiations start, and the Norwegians will be heavily
engaged in this process. The President says she knows
how to handle the JVP. She wants North and East
reconstruction to speed up. The Norwegians are taking a
practical, step-by-step approach. The June 1 Co-Chairs
meeting can reinforce these positive trends as can A/S
Rocca's visit here next week and the Secretary's may 12
meeting with FM Kadirgamar. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) Norwegian Special Envoy Eric Solheim briefed
major donor Chiefs of Mission May 4 on the results of
consultations the Norwegians were holding in Sri Lanka
from May 1-4. Solheim and Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar
Helgesen met with President Kumaratunga on May 1.
Helgesen departed Sri Lanka that evening, and on May 2
Solheim traveled to Kilinochchi to meet with the
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam's (LTTE's) political
leader S.P. Thamilchelvam. Solheim had also met with
Foreign Minister Lakshman Kadirgamar, Sri Lanka Muslim
Congress leader Rauf Hakeem, Indian High Commissioner
Nirupam Sen, and before departing would meet with Tamil
National Alliance parliamentarians and with Opposition
Leader Ranil Wickremesinghe.

Ready to Re-engage
--------------


3. (C) Solheim said that overall they had positive
results. Both the Tigers and the Government appeared
ready to re-engage in the peace negotiations on a
constructive basis. The four-hour meeting with
Kumaratunga had been "very constructive." She was
focused and interested in finding ways to accommodate
the LTTE so that talks could resume. The LTTE, Solheim
said, was "broadly receptive to the message from the
President," and was "eager to resume talks." The Tigers
stressed they would continue the talks in the same
spirit in which they had been conducted with the
previous government, and based on what had been already
achieved. Both sides said they would respect the Cease-
Fire Agreement (CFA).


4. (C) Solheim said that it was Norway's view that it
was important to keep expectations down. "The parties
are on the way back to the table, but not immediately."
More preparatory work is needed, and there would be more
visits from Norway. Many issues needed to be clarified:
venue, composition of teams, how to handle the press,
etc. Solheim was emphatic that the talks could not
resume in May. He also noted that before talks resumed
the LTTE intended to call back for further consultations
the expatriate experts who had helped the Tigers devise
their Interim Self Governing Authority (ISGA) plan. The
interim authority issue would be the main subject for
talks, and there was no easy solution for this. In
addition, the two sides would have to take some time to
build personal confidence with each other.


5. (C) When asked how the President could conduct
negotiations when she headed a minority government
itself severely divided on the issue, Solheim said both
Kumaratunga and Kadirgamar said they knew how to handle
the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP). The President will
take absolute charge and call all the shots. According
to the Japanese Ambassador, Kumaratunga had talked of
forming a National Peace Council and inviting Opposition
Leader Wickremesinghe to participate, but doubted he
would do so. Solheim clarified that the President
wanted wider consultations on peace, but intended for
the negotiating team to be a government delegation only.
Regarding the JVP, Solheim said that he thought the JVP
would not challenge Kumaratunga immediately on this
issue, but that the crunch would come when it was time
for a major decision, for instance, on accepting an
interim administration plan.


6. (C) Solheim said that the President was eager to get
reconstruction in the North and East started, and
understood the need for a partnership with the LTTE for
this to happen. This underlined the need for an
"interim interim" structure which could get assistance
moving. India is ready to help with reconstruction
financing, Solheim said, but contrary to statements by
Kadirgamar and others about an enhanced Indian role in
the negotiations, the Indians have given no signal that
they have any desire to take a front seat.

More Visitors
--------------


7. (C) Solheim said it was not yet confirmed, but it
was likely that the Norwegian Foreign Minister would
visit Sri Lanka on May 10-11, meeting the President the
first day and Prabhakaran the next. (The press
announced this visit May 5.) The Japanese Ambassador
said Special Envoy Akashi would visit May 15-19.
Ambassador noted that South Asia Assistant Secretary
Rocca would be in Sri Lanka May 13-16. Solheim said
that he expected to be back in Sri Lanka around May 24
for another round of shuttle diplomacy.

COMMENT
--------------


8. (C) The Norwegians appear to be taking a pragmatic
approach, trying to take a series of small steps to
build confidence and set the ground for progress before
beginning the actual negotiating process. So far the
President and Kadirgamar are saying the right things.
In this regard, the outcome of the June 1 Co-Chairs
meeting in Brussels can play an important and positive
role. The Secretary's meeting with FM Kadirgamar on May
12 and A/S Rocca's visit here next week are useful
opportunities to encourage progress. END COMMENT.


9. (U) Minimize considered.

LUNSTEAD