Bauer off to K'nochchi with Govt. proposals

Norwegian Special Envoy Hansson Bauer who is now in Sri Lanka on a mission to explore the possibility of restarting peace negotiations between the Government and the LTTE is due to hand over Government proposals to the LTTE in Kilinochchi today. Hansson Bauer who arrived in Sri Lanka on Sunday, met Government Chief Negotiator Minister Nimal Siripala de Silva yesterday at the Health Ministry. "The Minister submitted to Hansson Bauer the proposals of the Government during the discussion," a press release issued from Minister De Silva's office said yesterday. According to Ministry sources, Bauer had a 40-minute discussion with the Minister commencing at 8.30 a.m. yesterday.

He is due to meet Minister de Silva today to convey the LTTE's stance on the Government proposals and also its stance on the peace process after discussions with LTTE leaders in Kilinochchi. Bauer also met Government Peace Secretariat Chief Dr. Palitha Kohona at 3.50 p.m. yesterday at the Peace Secretariat in Colombo and had talks lasting nearly one hour. However, both parties ended their meeting agreeing not to make any statement to the media on the outcome. "They will make a statement to the media following Bauer's meeting with the LTTE leaders in Kilinochchi," a spokesperson for the Government Peace Secretariat said. LTTE Media Coordinator Daya Master told the Daily News that Bauer is due to meet LTTE Political Wing Leader S.P. Thamilselvan this morning at the LTTE Peace Secretariat in Kilinochchi. He said the LTTE is ready to commence peace talks at any time and they had forwarded their proposals when Norwegian Ambassador Hans Brattsker met Thamilselvan in Kilinochchi recently.