"We respects Sri Lanka's sovereignty and territorial integrity" - Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister

Norwegian Deputy Foreign Minister Raymond Johansen has stressed that policies guiding their engagement with Sri Lanka remain firm and will not change.

In light of the recent public debate about Norwegian policy towards Sri Lanka, the Deputy Norwegian Minister in a statement said Norway is fully committed to assisting Sri Lanka in finding a solution to the national conflict, while respecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The Norwegian government had to issue this statement after a Norwegian ruling party Councillor had stated during a pro LTTE rally that the Tamil people deserve a free and independent country. The pro LTTE website had attacked all Western countries and India who are making statements supportive of Sri Lanka's sovereignty.

Meanwhile political analysts point out that although the Government of Norway facilitated six rounds of 'peace talks' between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE, the LTTE continued to violate provisions stipulated in the agreements including killing civilians, depriving the rights of Tamil civilians lived in the non-liberated areas, and smuggled weapons into the country, forcing the Government of Sri Lanka to abrogate the Ceasefire Agreement that Norway brokered between the two parties.

The Government of Sri Lanka has categorically announced that the LTTE should first disarm as a non-negotiable pre-condition for future talks aimed at resolving the conflict.