Chandrika favours dialogue with LTTE

New Delhi, Feb 13 (UNI) Former Sri Lankan President Chandrika Kumaratunga has expressed the hope that the more than two-decade old ethnic conflict in the island nation will be resolved through dialogue and ''positive demonstration of goodwill''.

Speaking at the Rotary South Asia Goodwill Summit here, Mrs Kumaratunga, who headed the government for 12 years said, ''Weapons cannot provide solution to problems between two groups of people.'' She said bridges could be built even across the sharpest divide and dialogue and demonstration of goodwill were the only means to resolving conflict.

In this context, she cited the efforts of Sri Lankan government to take development to the conflict-marred areas of the country and to relentlessly pursue the path of negotiations. ''This has resulted in several years of a ceasefire and conclusion of a landmark agreement between the government and the LTTE, for joint reconstruction efforts in the areas affected by the Tsunami,'' she said.

Noting that India, Pakistan and Bangladesh faced similar problems which lead to violence, she said ''My country, too, has undergone for far too long, such travails in a more acute form.'' The Sri Lankan leader suggested a united action by all countries to help bridge the differences, ''based on our common heritage and challenges''. Asserting the role of NGOs in this regard, the former Lankan President said ''peoples organisations'' could also undertake actions that governments cannot due to political compulsions.

She said South Asia is a sub continent of considerable size. ''It is home to one fourth of the world's population. It possess massive quantities of natural and human resources. Yet, the majority of its people live and die in abject poverty, the region is riven with political conflict within and between nations,'' she observed.

On SAARC, she said, the organisation has moved little to put into action programmes of regional cooperation to address several issues.

''The obstacles to effective cooperation in South Asia have mainly stemmed from inter-state conflicts and distrust,'' she said.

Former prime Minister I K Gujral presided over the function, held here last evening.

UNI