Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06OSLO551
2006-05-03 09:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Oslo
Cable title:  

SRI LANKA CO-CHAIRS MEETING IN OSLO

Tags:  PTER PGOV PHUM CE NO 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0015
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHNY #0551/01 1230926
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 030926Z MAY 06
FM AMEMBASSY OSLO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 3893
INFO RUEHBK/AMEMBASSY BANGKOK PRIORITY 0467
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0545
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA PRIORITY 1035
RUEHJA/AMEMBASSY JAKARTA PRIORITY 0135
RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 1346
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0408
RUEHOT/AMEMBASSY OTTAWA PRIORITY 3013
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0902
RUEHPF/AMEMBASSY PHNOM PENH PRIORITY 0026
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO PRIORITY 1558
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS PRIORITY
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1260
C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000551 

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DEPT FOR SCA/INS (GOWER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM CE NO
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA CO-CHAIRS MEETING IN OSLO


Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Mike Hammer,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)

C O N F I D E N T I A L OSLO 000551

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR SCA/INS (GOWER)

E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/03/2016
TAGS: PTER PGOV PHUM CE NO
SUBJECT: SRI LANKA CO-CHAIRS MEETING IN OSLO


Classified By: Pol/Econ Counselor Mike Hammer,
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d)


1. (C) Summary. Representatives of the Sri Lanka Co-Chairs
( Norway, Japan, the EU, and the U.S. ) met in Oslo on
April 28 in an emergency session to discuss the deteriorating
situation in Sri Lanka and plan for a follow-on meeting in
Tokyo. Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asian
Affairs Richard A. Boucher, head of the U.S. delegation,
pressed for expanded international cooperation, outside the
Co-Chairs group, to cut off financing and arms supplies to
the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). U.S. goals for
the meeting were to push for new solutions to pressure the
Tigers and deliver the message that changing their behaviors
will lead to political acceptance. The U.S. team also
initiated discussion on how to make it clear to the
Government of Sri Lanka that it must address Tamil grievances
and find a long-term solution to the conflict. End summary.

--------------
Briefings and Proposals
--------------


2. (C) Norwegian Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer briefed on
the situation on the ground, emphasizing both sides have
breached the ceasefire and that the Sri Lanka Monitoring
Mission will present a full report at the next round of talks
in Geneva. He said during his last discussions with
government and Tiger negotiators on April 27, both sides
indicated they were still committed to the ceasefire and to
going to Geneva. He characterized a second round of talks as
likely to be limited in scope, adding Tiger negotiators will
want to focus on the ceasefire agreement and the
government,s commitments made at the first round of talks.


3. (C) The Special Envoy indicated discussions on
arrangements for LTTE consultative meetings leading up to
Geneva were underway. He emphasized a standard procedure
must be established for transporting LTTE cadres for
consultations for future meetings in order to prevent the
delays that have plagued this second round of talks.


4. (C) Minister of International Development Erik Solheim
cautioned that the Sri Lankan government has &promised a lot

but has not kept its promises8 in its dealings with the
LTTE. As an example, he noted the government has not
delivered on Karuna, as they committed to do in the first
round of Geneva talks. In contrast, Solheim said the LTTE
and in particular Prabhakaran, are &brutal and don,t value
human life but keep their promises.8 Participants agreed
the best possible outcome for a second round of talks would
be a commitment from both sides to additional talks to reach
a long-term solution.


5. (C) Ambassador Lunstead presented the U.S. proposal that
the international community do more to cut off LTTE funding
and weapons procurement. He proposed countries with large
Tamil diaspora communities, such as the U.S., Canada,
Australia, the UK, France, Switzerland, and Germany, share
information and possibly conduct joint operations to cut back
on Tiger financing. A similar group to take action on Tiger
arms procurement would focus on southeast Asian countries,
including Thailand, Indonesia, and Cambodia, where the Tiger
network operates.


6. (C) The other Co-Chairs, especially Norway and Japan,
responded positively to this suggestion but made it clear the
Co-Chairs group lacks the mandate for such activities and
therefore any action must be taken by a new group of
interested countries. Assistant Secretary Boucher committed
to discussing the issue with the Canadians. Ambassador
Lunstead suggested the Co-Chairs endorse the new group.
Participants agreed to discuss the proposal in greater detail
in Tokyo.


7. (C) Assistant Secretary Boucher pushed for expanded
participation by interested countries at the Co-Chairs
meeting in Tokyo and suggested inviting the Canadians. The
EU noted the December Co-Chairs meeting in Brussels reached
consensus not to expand Co-Chairs membership, but did want to
increase cooperation with interested countries. The group
agreed to invite Canada, India, and possibly other interested
countries to a separate meeting (or meetings) in Tokyo.


8. (C) Assistant Secretary Boucher pressed EU and Norwegian
participants on the LTTE listing issue. The EU stressed
consultations between EU member states on this issue &will
take time.8 Solheim requested the issue be discussed
outside the Co-Chairs mechanism. He said Norway,s unique
position as facilitator to the peace process made it
difficult to consider listing.


9. (C) The EU suggested Karuna leadership be included in
discussions, if only to use as leverage in negotiations with
the LTTE. The other Co-Chairs did not support this proposal.

--------------
Coordination With India
--------------

10.(C) The Co-Chairs met with the Indian Ambassador to
Norway at a separate meeting after the formal Co-Chairs
meeting ended. Making it clear he was drawing from
&instructions,8 the Indian representative outlined his
government,s position on the peace process in Sri Lanka. He
reiterated Indian support for Norwegian facilitation;
stressed both parties should &commence dialogue8 as soon as
possible; noted the Indian government had advised the
government of Sri Lanka to exercise restraint, adding
President Rajapaksa had reassured the Indian High
Commissioner that there would be no further escalation of
violence on the part of the government; and urged the
Co-Chairs to send a strong message to the LTTE that &they
cannot bomb their way into the talks.8 He cautioned that if
the Tigers accomplished their objectives by an outbreak of
violence following a long stalemate, such tactics would
eventually be accepted as a fait accompli.

11.(C) The Co-Chairs discussed their plans with the Indian
representative to rethink their role in Sri Lanka and asked
how India might use its &vital role8 in South Asia to take
on a new role in Sri Lanka as well. Assistant Secretary
Boucher stressed the Co-Chairs, priorities were to &keep
the door open8 to peace talks and push both parties to stop
the violence. He outlined the U.S. proposal for action
outside the Co-Chairs, stressing &we look upon India as one
country that can help.8 Turning to the possibility of LTTE
financing coming from Tamil Nadu, the Indian representative
noted he &would not rule it out.8 He said his government
is &very concerned8 about the situation in Sri Lanka and
ties to India, suggesting the conflict is playing a role in
upcoming elections in Tamil Nadu.

12.(C) Solheim committed to keeping the Indians informed of
Tokyo arrangements and suggested they send a representative
from New Delhi to the meeting.

--------------
Preparations for Tokyo
--------------

13.(C) The Co-Chairs agreed to use the follow-on meeting in
Tokyo, tentatively scheduled for May 30 to allow Under
Secretary Nick Burns to participate, to re-examine their role

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in Sri Lanka and develop new ways of doing things.

14.(C) Special Envoy Jon Hanssen-Bauer delegated seven
papers that will form the basis of the May 30 meeting and
volunteered Norway to serve as the clearinghouse to
coordinate drafting. The papers and their assigned drafter
are as follows: a review of the Tokyo Declaration (Japan);
definitions of the basic needs of both parties to solve the
conflict (Norway); a roadmap or timetable outlining possible
scenarios (Norway); a review of assistance and premises for
donor assistance (all); an overview of incentive systems,
including what the Co-Chairs are doing now and new proposals
(U.S.); a review of the Co-Chairs mandate and role (EU); and
a review of additional alliances and mechanisms to provide
support to the peace process (U.S).

--------------
Press Conference
--------------

15.(C) The four heads of delegation participated in a press
conference, which Solheim led by characterizing the meeting
as an &emergency8 session and calling on both parties to
&stop the violence and go back to negotiations.8 He
confirmed both parties continued to discuss the
transportation issue to allow LTTE cadres to deliberate
before deciding on whether to go to Geneva. He also
summarized Co-Chairs discussions, noting the day,s most
significant outcomes were agreement to meet again in Tokyo
and preparations for a &plan for the peace process8 to be
finalized in Tokyo.

--------------
Statement
--------------

16.(C) The Co-Chairs also released a statement, the text of
which follows:

The Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donor Conference (the European
Union and the Governments of Japan, the United States, and
Norway) met in Oslo on 28 April for Consultations.

The purpose of the meeting was to assess the serious
situation in Sri Lanka and examine how Co-Chairs could most
effectively respond to it.

Co-Chairs reiterated their deep concern at the recent
deterioration of the situation in Sri Lanka, condemning all
acts of violence and calling on this to stop.

The Co-Chairs from the EU, Japan and USA reaffirmed their
support to the Norwegian peace facilitators.

The Co-Chairs have decided to meet again in Tokyo to further
discuss steps and concerted actions to encourage the parties
to pursue a durable solution in Sri Lanka. End text.


17. (U) This message was cleared by A/S Boucher.
Visit Oslo's Classified website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/eur/oslo/index.cf m

WHITNEY