Confidence-building steps no substitute for talks: Kadirgamar

By C. Raja Mohan

NEW DELHI, DEC. 16. Hinting at some flexibility in its approach to talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE), Sri Lanka today said it was prepared to consider unilateral steps to promote a peace process provided these measures were not seen as a substitute for immediate and substantive negotiations.

Addressing a press conference here, the visiting Sri Lankan Foreign Minister, Mr. Lakshman Kadirgamar, reaffirmed his government's stated preference for an `unconditional dialogue' with the LTTE to end the civil war in the island nation.

But Mr. Kadirgamar left the door ajar for some unilateral confidence-building measures by his government to create a conducive atmosphere for the talks. If these steps ``can truly facilitate a dialogue, then yes, we can consider taking them,'' he said.

The proposed talks are stalled by the tension between Colombo's insistence on unconditional talks, and the LTTE leader Mr. Velupillai Prabhakaran's demand late last month for actions from Colombo to `de-escalate' the military situation and `restore normalcy' in the Jaffna peninsula before the dialogue begins.

Colombo says it is prepared to address the various concerns of the LTTE in the talks once they start. It argues that military de-escalation and a ceasefire can only follow from a serious, purposeful and time-bound dialogue to resolve the conflict.

Colombo's past discussions with the LTTE on a `ceasefire' and `restoring normalcy' in Jaffna were `not encouraging', according to Mr. Kadirgamar. Instead of wasting time on preliminaries, he suggested, the two sides move quickly to `come to grips with the core issues of the dispute'.

Mr. Kadirgamar said the perceptions of an economic blockade of Jaffna were `off the mark'. He said Colombo would soon be issuing a document to clarify the situation on the ground.

Conceding the deep distrust that divides Colombo and the LTTE, Mr. Kadirgamar said efforts must be made `to overcome it'. While insisting that the prospects of a dialogue depend on the LTTE response, he believes that the long-awaited talks `will take place'.

But the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister denied there was any specific end-of-the-year deadline for the negotiations to start. He also dismissed speculation about contacts between the Sri Lankan President, Ms. Chandrika Kumaratunga, who is on vacation in London and the LTTE leaders based there.

Mr. Kadirgamar briefed the External Affairs Minister, Mr. Jaswant Singh, yesterday on the latest developments in Sri Lanka and the prospects for peace talks being brokered by Norway.

He said neither New Delhi is seeking a role in ending the civil war in Sri Lanka, nor is Colombo asking for it. But Mr. Kadirgamar added, ``India's views on the ultimate solution to the conflict are of paramount importance to us.''

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