Lanka rejects Tigers' demand for unconditional talks Wednesday, December 1 2004 21:25 Hrs (IST)
Colombo:
Sri Lankan Government today (Dec 1, 2004) rejected Tamil Tiger rebels' demand for an unconditional resumption of talks and accused the guerrillas of using "threatening language" to undermine peace efforts.
The rebel position was unacceptable, a Government statement said in its first reaction to the rebel warning of returning to their "freedom struggle" unless the 19-month impasse in peace talks was ended by Colombo.
"A call, couched in threatening language, from the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam) now for a resumption of negotiations without conditions, while setting conditions itself by insisting unilaterally on a single agenda item is scarcely conducive to good faith negotiations," it said.
The Government said it wanted peace talks based on the LTTE's Interim Self Governing Authority proposal while discussing a final settlement to the conflict.
The Tigers had wanted talks only on a single subject, their blue print for self-rule.
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