France welcome the official peace talks which just took place in Thailand between the Government and the LTTE (Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam).

France considers this as a significant progress towards the peaceful and negotiated settlement of the conflict, which is called for, on several occasions.

France encourages the parties concerned to commit themselves to future negotiations with determination and good faith and to seek, within the framework of respect for Human Rights and Democratic Pluralism, the establishment of a just and durable peace which takes into account the aspirations of all communities without causing any harm to the intangible principal of territorial integrity and unity of Sri Lanka.

France welcomes once again the efforts made by Norway in its role of ‘facilitator’ of the Peace Talks.