No room for terrorist operatives on US soil

US Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice assured her Sri Lankan counterpart, Minister Mangala Samaraweera on Saturday that her government's efforts to apprehend foreign terrorist operatives on US soil will continue in line with its global fight against terrorism.

She said the recent arrest of suspected LTTE operatives in New York were an on-going effort to curtail terrorist activities within the United States, a spokesman from the Foreign Ministry said.

During the meeting between Rice and Minister Samaraweera on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York the former said 'terrorism is unacceptable in any part of the world, be it in Sri Lanka or in the United States,' assuring that the 'US administration will take all steps to counter and eradicate the threat of terrorism.'

Minister Samaraweera briefed his counterpart on the current political and security situation in Sri Lanka and efforts made by the Government to reach a political settlement.

He said the government was awaiting a commitment by the LTTE Leader to pursue a genuine negotiation process and a 'comprehensive and verifiable cessation of hostilities to commence talks.

Voicing strong support to Norwegian mediation in the peace process the US Secretary of State has urged Sri Lanka to try and engage with the facilitators in a concerted and a focused way as they try to start another round of negotiations with the LTTE.

The spokesperson said the US Secretary of State was supportive of the Government's efforts in the peacekeeping process and encouraged the early commencement of talks.

Minister Samaraweera also detailed the progress made at the All Party Representative Committee on the Constitutional reform process and the government's commitment to address genuine grievances of the Tamil people and other communities, in a final settlement.

Several other bilateral issues were also discussed at the meeting.