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Solheim speaks to Jaswant, Lalit Man Singh

Josy Joseph in New Delhi

Eric Solheim, the Norwegian member of parliament and the key negotiator between Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, briefed Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh and Foreign Secretary Lalit Man Singh about his country's attempts to bring peace to the island nation.

Indian leadership reiterated their known stand that they would involve themselves only if invited by both Sri Lankan government and the LTTE, while asserting that the problem to the ethnic problem lies with the Sri Lankans.

Solheim flew in to Delhi early today and called on Lalit Man Singh at 2 pm at his office. Later, at 3 pm, he met Jaswant Singh. A foreign ministry spokesman said he was in Delhi to "brief the government of India about Norway's role and its perception of developments in Sri Lanka".

Solheim was accompanied by his country's ambassador to India, Truls Hanevold, and Norway's ambassador to Sri Lanka, Jon Westborg, during his meetings with Indian authorities.

"Solheim exchanged views with his interlocutors on the evolving situation in Sri Lanka. The Indian side reiterated the government's position as articulated by the minister in Parliament and in a recent television interview," the spokesman said.

The Indian government has said that it would get involved in peace negotiations only if both the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE invited it. The government, alive to the bitter experience of sending in the Indian Peace-Keeping Force a decade ago and to sentiments in Tamil Nadu, has also ruled out military intervention.

"Solheim shared India's approach that the solution to the ethnic conflict in Sri Lanka lies with the Sri Lankans themselves in a manner by which all communities can realize their aspirations within the context of the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the country," the spokesman said.

Calling on India to play an active role in bringing peace to Sri Lanka, Solheim said that without India playing an active role, a solution would be difficult. His meeting with Singh was "absolutely positive", he said, adding that Norway would consult India on major developments regarding Lanka.

An Indian external affairs spokesperson spokesman said Norway would keep India regularly posted about the Sri Lankan negotiations.

"We have exchanged views about evolving situation" in Lanka, the spokesman said, adding, "What they are doing is entirely a Norwegian effort." He refused to give a direct reply to repeated questions if India would co-operate with Norway in bringing peace to the island nation.

The spokesman said, "There is a general appreciation that any solution needs India's co-operation." The Norwegian peacemaker flew back to his country later in the evening.

Norway has been actively involved in negotiations between Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. Norway has a significant number of Sri Lankan refugees, and several of Norway's voluntary groups are involved in social work in Lanka.

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