US hails resumption of Sri Lanka peace talks

Washington, Oct 12: The United States has hailed the agreement between the Sri Lankan Government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to resume peace talks on October 28-29 in Geneva, and urged both sides to immediately cease hostilities and foster environment conducive to productive discussions.

State Department spokesman Sean McCormack in a statement yesterday expressed deep concern at the ongoing violence in Sri Lanka which put at risk the 2002 truce agreement.

He urged both sides to ensure that non-government entities involved in humanitarian relief efforts are provided access to conflict-affected areas. It is imperative that human rights be respected and protected in all areas of Sri Lanka, he said.

The United States welcomed the Government's initiative in creating a Commission of Inquiry on human rights and encouraged the Government to reach agreement with the office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights on terms of reference for the Commission of Inquiry that will meet international standards.

The United States strongly supported the ongoing Norwegian peace facilitation efforts.

''We continue to coordinate closely with the other Co-Chairs of the Tokyo Donors' Conference - Norway, Japan, and the European Union - to find a way forward to an end to the violence and human rights violations in Sri Lanka and a return to negotiations between the parties,'' Mr McCormack said.

The LTTE has waged an insurgency in Sri Lanka for two decades to establish a separate Tamil homeland. More than 60,000 people are believed to have died in the conflict.

A 2002 Norwegian-brokered truce gave way in August to a new wave of hostilities that have caused thousands to flee their homes and limited access of humanitarian aid agencies to the refugees.

UNI

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