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No mediator role for Norway in talks
The Government is expected to ask the Norwegian brokers of the peace process with the LTTE to limit their role to that of facilitator or moderator, and not play the role of mediator in upcoming talks with the rebels, The Sunday Times learns.

The move comes in the wake of a questionnaire given by the Norwegians to both the Sri Lanka Government and the LTTE a fortnight ago where they asked the two sides what role the Scandinavian peace brokers must play during the negotiations.
The distinction rules out the Norwegians playing the role of arbitrator - giving rulings and decisions - in the tough negotiations expected, once they begin, to end two decades of virtual civil war in the country.

According to highly placed sources, the broad question asked in writing by the Norwegians from both sides was a clear willingness on their part to play "any role" - and this varied from that of "facilitator" (only providing the logistics for the meeting but keeping away from direct talks); "moderator" (sitting at the table but not participating at the discussions - or playing the role of the speaker in parliament); and "mediator" (actively participating in the discussions and influencing its proceedings).

The UNF Government has already communicated this decision to the PA saying that the Norwegian role will be limited to that of "moderator", a position the PA is reported to be going along with.

The LTTE's official position has not yet been made known, but its website said that the LTTE wanted a third-party to be involved in the negotiations.

They, however, did not mention any names.The Norwegians who were brought into the Sri Lankan conflict by the PA Government, with the acceptance of the LTTE, following international pressure, especially by the donor countries and lending institutions, were first to play the role of a mere facilitator.

Since their first induction to the peace process, the Norwegian role has grown to now include a sixty-member Monitoring Mission headed by them to supervise the ceasefire.

In Oslo's Parliament, Norwegian Foreign Minister Van Paterson announced earlier this year in a statement on foreign policy, that his Government was playing the role of "mediator" in Sri Lanka's peace process.

Meanwhile, Government-LTTE talks which were earlier scheduled for May and then put off for June, are now expected to get further delayed with the LTTE not giving a date for talks on the basis that 'core issues' i.e. issues revolving around a separate state, de-commissioning of arms, a Tamil homeland etc., must not be taken up for discussion without first discussing an interim administration in the north and east under LTTE-control.

The Government has stated that 'core issues' will be on the agenda, and that all issues must be worked out at the negotiating table.

It was officially announced this week that the ban on the LTTE will be lifted - for the duration of the talks - ten days before the date fixed for these talks.

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