Sun, 2007-11-04
Oslo

Erik Solheim, the Norwegian facilitator who was behind the drafting and the signing of the failed Ceasefire Agreement, has expressed his sympathies “to the very many left behind” by the death of Tamilselvam. He was killed in an air strike outside Killinochchi.



Erik Solheim with Tamilselvan

The Ceasefire Agreement failed primarily due to the violations of the terms and conditions by the Tamil Tigers. Solheim in his message of condolence says that Tamilselvan’s “… many important contributions have been crucial for the peace process, and his death is a great loss.”

Here is the full text of Solheim’s message issued by the Norwegian Foreign Ministry on Novemeber 2, 2007:

The leader of the LTTE negotiating team and head of the LTTE political wing, Mr S.P. Tamilselvan, was killed this morning, in an air strike outside Kilinochchi. Among the killed are also other members of LTTE negotiating team.

Mr Tamilselvan was a key actor in the peace process. He participated in the negotiations on the ceasefire agreement in February 2002, and in the subsequent peace talks in 2002 and 2003.

He played a central role in negotiating a cooperation mechanism for reconstruction after the tsunami (P-TOMS). He was also a leading figure in the LTTE delegation to the talks in Geneva in February 2006, and subsequently became head of delegation.

“I have known Mr Tamilselvan for nearly a decade,” says Erik Solheim, Minister of the Environment and Development Cooperation. “Over the years he has become the main point of contact for the Norwegian facilitating team. His leadership as head of the political wing and his many important contributions have been crucial for the peace process, and his death is a great loss.”

“I am deeply concerned about the possible consequences of the recent escalations. Far too many lives have been lost in this conflict, and our deep sympathy goes, as always, to the families of those killed and the very many left behind,” says Mr. Solheim.