Tue, 09 February 2010  22:02:02
Cold Shoulder 5 Comment(s)
19 May, 2006 23:12:29
Norway fears isolation over role in Sri Lanka peace process
OSLO, May 19, 2006 (AFP) - The European Union's decision to place the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on its list of terrorist organisations risks isolating Norway, which has played a key role in the nation's peace process, chief negotiator Erik Solheim said on Friday.
Norway, which is not an EU member, has mediated talks between the Sri Lankan government and Tamil separatists since 2000.

Under pressure from the United States, the 25 EU members on Thursday agreed, from next week and at the latest "before June", to place the LTTE on its list of terrorist organisations.

The move will notably allow greater scrutiny of funds transferred to the rebel group.

"This does not affect Norway. We do not use the EU list of terrorist groups, we use the UN list," Solheim said.

"It certainly means that Norway may become even more isolated in the Sri Lankan peace process, since we will be one of the few countries able to deal completely impartially with both Sri Lankan authorities and the Tamil Tigers," Solheim told Norwegian national radio NRK.

Since April, Sri Lanka has seen an upsurge in violence which has claimed more than 200 lives, undermining the 2002 peace agreement brokered by Norway.

The conflict has caused the deaths of more than 60,000 since 1972.
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READER COMMENT(S)
5. truthwillout May 21
Eric Solheim was privy to knowledge of major prospects: oil & gas, off-shore Sri Lanka, and formulated a plan with the connivance of the LTTE for 'grabbing these riches' - for Norway.

He sold the plan to the Norwegian Govt, and obtained its concurrence.

Money-bags held open to key politicians in SL got him (and Norway) entry as mediator/facilitator and later as arbiter into the conflict between Sri Lanka and the rebel group.

He did his best to undermine Sri Lanka's integrity/sovereignity.

As they say 'truth will out sometime' - that is what is happening now.

Hope the countries of the world get a correct perspective - and see how Solheim et al., were plotting to dis-member a poor country in South Asia to further enrich the richest country in Europe.

4. Darmitha-Kotte May 21
Mr. Solheim stating that Norway will be the only country that can work impartially both with the government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE is really a long shot from him.

Everyone knows that he has been the most biased Norwegian in the team who was definitely involved in smuggling LTTE leader Prabhakaran out of Sri Lanka without the knowledge of the government, disguised him as a Catholic Priest to pass through Maldivian Immigration en-route to Norway!

Does this sound impartial by any standards?

The citizens of Sri Lanka feel that Mr. Solheim has cheated on us more so the Government of Sri Lanka.

3. nimal May 21
What a joker is solheim to say " norway was impatial to SL & LTTE "
2. Stacy May 20
Ther is a cattle feed peculier to Srilanka called PUNNAKKU.

I think Scandinavian Vikings should be Fed with the latter.

Usually Cattle get instantaneously intelligent after their PUNNAKKU feeds and they move their bowel.

I hope PUNNAKKU will help Mr Solheim and his ontourage in shinning up their intelligence. APPU

1. Carlo D. May 20
What cheek of Solheim to state that he has acted impartially on this issue?

He has flagrantly violated the axiom of 'impartiality' and been so biased towards the LTTE.

People around the world cannot be fooled by this man who claims to be a saviour while acting just the opposite.

Sri Lanka should have had the courage to kick him out long time ago. Alas!