Norwegian Government Statement at Conclusion of Fourth Session

"The parties recognized that the situation with regard to the High Security Zones involves major humanitarian and security concerns for both parties. Recent controversies surrounding this matter were discussed in depth. The parties did not reach agreement on the continuation of the work of the Sub-Committee on De-Escalation and Normalization" 

"No possibility of a review of Sri Lanka's northern High Security Zones (HSZs) unless the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) "deposits its weapons to neutral supervision and withdraws from frontline positions"

"We are involved in the current peace process merely to expose to the world that the Sinhala people (majority community) will not agree to a settlement that would be acceptable to the Tamil people (minority)...  sections of the military and Buddhist clergy were among those who could hamper the peace process... Even if all these hurdles are overcome, and a just settlement is reached, no Sinhala political party is capable of mustering the required two-thirds majority in parliament to make it into law... Because of the ongoing power struggle between the Prime Minister and the President, she (Chandrika Kumaratunga) may dissolve parliament at any time and topple the peace process.."

"We are not demanding demilitarisation or dismantling of camps or the reduction of troops. What we are asking the Government of Sri Lanka is to allow our people to return to their homes. It is the unconditional right of our people... any attempt to connect the return of refugees and IDP's to their own homes in the Jaffna Peninsula to the demobilisation of LTTE's fighting formations confined to barracks in Vanni jungles is illogical and ridiculous. Re-modification of ... the so-called ‘high security zones' to facilitate the return of the refugees and displaced is a cardinal obligation of the state. Sri Lanka can seek advice from any international expert  without jeopardising its strategic and security concerns. But the LTTE will fiercely oppose and reject any proposal that makes resettlement of refugees conditional upon de-commissioning of LTTE weapons..."

"The student population in the East launching the biggest ever procession of Muslims in the history, numbering over 65000 yesterday, announced the ‘Oluvil Declaration’ at Oluvil which called for a separate Muslim region in the East claiming that the North-East was their traditional homeland."

" Local community leaders say child abduction is a way for the rebels to exercise psychological control over the people. They says it also sends a message to the government that the rebels are still prepared for war if the peace process fails."

"No amount of placating a murderer who has a diabolical hidden agenda will ever lead to lasting peace. Prabhakaran will never give up his dream and if the UNP and the PA are stupid enough to think that a serpent will lose its poison when fed with milk, they need their collective heads examined..."

 "...LTTE and JVP, though invited, do not join. Delegation visited the European Academy in Germany which has a separate department to research on federalism..."

"the LTTE could prove they were serious about stopping recruitment - and about returning child combatants to their families - by developing a concrete action plan "

"Chairman, Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission (SLMM) in Batticaloa, Heikki Hulkkonen said last week that the LTTE has told the SLMM, for every child that escapes its baby brigades, it will take hostage another member of that family..."

 " At the end of the Vietnam talks they signed an agreement.... They also got Nobel Prizes. The way things are going ‘Ranil Aiya’ will also get a Nobel Prize. Vietnam got liberated after the winning of the Nobel Prize. What we are doing now is diplomacy...Now the situation has changed.. Kofi Annan is coming... Today the Japanese, Akashi, has come to Kilinochchi. Everybody is coming to help us... we have got that recognition. Those who banned us are now considering the lifting of the ban..."

"The peace monitors disembarked before the explosion.. they said the discovery of an anti-aircraft gun, grenades and ammunition on board the ship was a "clear violation" of the truce signed last February..."