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Acknowledging India's role as crucial and positive in the peace process in Sri Lanka, Norwegian special peace envoy Erik Solheim has brushed off reports that India has opposed the involvement of any western country in the peace process.
Solheim denied India's alleged role in trying to block the participation of Britain and Japan in the monitoring committee and said that New Delhi has always been supportive in any peace initiative in the island country.
''We have kept India informed about all major steps and got useful advice from a country with deep knowledge of the situation in Sri Lanka,'' he informed adding that it was for the Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam to decide upon any possible future monitoring committee.
Emphasising that Norway was a longtime friend of India, the peace envoy said that it would in no circumstance propose the name of countries for the committee which would be seen as an offence by the latter.
Reiterating the view that the problem to the conflict in Sri Lanka could only be solved through a dialogue between the LTTE and the government, Solheim considered the role of Prabhakaran as crucial in settling the ethnic crisis.
''Even those who strongly disagree with the policy and the methods of the LTTE, will acknowledge that Prabhakaran is the undisputed leader of that organisation,'' noted Solheim.
In an interview to the online The Lanka Academic, Solheim said, President Chandrika Kumaratrunga is absolutely committed to a peaceful settlement of the problem adding that Prabhakaran too was keen for the same.
''If Norway thought that either the government or the LTTE was not serious, we would not spend so much time on trying to assist the parties,'' he pointed out.
''But the most crucial factor is the willingness of the parties. We sincerely trust that both the government and LTTE are seriously trying to find a peaceful solution. But of course, it will take time. Talks will be protracted but are much preferable to war.''
He conceded that Norway could never solve the problem in Sri Lanka adding that it could be done by the Sinhalese, Tamils, Muslims and others in the island.
''Our role is to try to assist the government and LTTE in finding a solution. It is for these two warring parties to decide whether they will bring up the 'Thimpu' principles,'' he added.
To a question that he is siding with the Tamils, Solheim said ''The only gift I have accepted from the LTTE is a small token of friendship handed me by Prabhakaran.''
Solheim said Norway was ready to step aside if both the Sri Lankan government and LTTE believe they were better served by someone else in the ongoing peace process.
''In the peace process there are very few guarantees. But we believe that both the government and LTTE are serious in their search for a negotiated settlement. Many Sinhalese, of course, believe that the LTTE fooled the government in the past. At the same time many Tamils believe that they were betrayed by solutions".
UNI
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