Envoy Has Hope of Solution in Sri Lanka

A Norwegian special envoy brokering efforts to stop ethnic bloodshed in Sri Lanka said Wednesday that he had hope for a peaceful solution, while the U.S. backed his nation and India in attempts to end the crisis.

Oslo lawmaker Erik Solheim, who flew to New Delhi to brief Indian officials about the talks between a Norwegian delegation and Sri Lankan leaders in the past two days, said his country had received “positive encouragement” from India for playing a facilitator’s role.

Thomas R. Pickering, U.S. undersecretary of State for political affairs, who was in India for wide-ranging bilateral talks, told a news conference that Washington supports Norway’s role in the peace process and would also support any role by India.

Pickering reiterated Washington’s opposition to Tamil separatism and said a military solution was not feasible.

“We believe everything must be done to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. We are watching the situation closely with this point in mind,” Pickering said.

Norway, which brokered a peace accord between Israel and the Palestinians in 1993, has offered to host talks between Sri Lanka and the rebels.

Meanwhile, military officials in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital, said Wednesday that Tamil Tiger rebels had diverted attention from the main theater of war in the northern Jaffna peninsula by shelling an army camp in the east.

Only sporadic fighting was reported in Jaffna, the former rebel stronghold where government troops are under attack by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam.