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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Sri Lankan peace talks under way | Sri Lankan peace talks under way |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels have begun talks in Geneva in an effort to avert a slide back into war. | Sri Lanka's government and Tamil Tiger rebels have begun talks in Geneva in an effort to avert a slide back into war. |
| Violence between the two sides has soared. Since July, 372 security force members, 128 civilians and many rebels have died, the government says. | Violence between the two sides has soared. Since July, 372 security force members, 128 civilians and many rebels have died, the government says. |
| Correspondents say expectations from the talks are close to zero. | Correspondents say expectations from the talks are close to zero. |
| The best scenario, many believe, is that the two sides agree on another date for another round of negotiations. | The best scenario, many believe, is that the two sides agree on another date for another round of negotiations. |
| Negotiator's frustration | Negotiator's frustration |
| The talks began with a strained handshake between the leaders of the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger delegations, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Geneva. | The talks began with a strained handshake between the leaders of the Sri Lankan government and Tamil Tiger delegations, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes, in Geneva. |
| They had been instructed to shake hands by Norway's minister for development, Erik Solheim, who had expressed his frustration at the delays in getting the factions to the negotiation table. | They had been instructed to shake hands by Norway's minister for development, Erik Solheim, who had expressed his frustration at the delays in getting the factions to the negotiation table. |
| "We have shown a lot of patience and we are prepared to show more, but the people in Sri Lanka and the international community will be impatient," he said. | |
| Swiss diplomats also reminded the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan government of their obligations under the Geneva Convention. | Swiss diplomats also reminded the Tamil Tigers and Sri Lankan government of their obligations under the Geneva Convention. |
| Human rights issues are very much a part of the core issues we want to discuss Nimal Siripala de Silva, Government chief negotiator Battle to avert war | Human rights issues are very much a part of the core issues we want to discuss Nimal Siripala de Silva, Government chief negotiator Battle to avert war |
| The talks are the first time the two sides have met in eight months. | The talks are the first time the two sides have met in eight months. |
| On the eve of the talks, the rebels said the road linking northern Jaffna peninsula with the rest of the country should be opened to facilitate further negotiations. | On the eve of the talks, the rebels said the road linking northern Jaffna peninsula with the rest of the country should be opened to facilitate further negotiations. |
| Spokesman Daya Master told the Associated Press news agency that the rebels would not agree to any future meetings with the government if the demand was not met. | Spokesman Daya Master told the Associated Press news agency that the rebels would not agree to any future meetings with the government if the demand was not met. |
| The road leading to the government-controlled city of Jaffna was closed in early August after fierce fighting broke out between the two sides. | The road leading to the government-controlled city of Jaffna was closed in early August after fierce fighting broke out between the two sides. |
| The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says if talks fail diplomats believe it is almost inevitable that Sri Lanka will return to all-out war. | The BBC's Dumeetha Luthra in Colombo says if talks fail diplomats believe it is almost inevitable that Sri Lanka will return to all-out war. |
| Pressure | Pressure |
| Seasoned observers suggest neither party is sincere in wanting to resume negotiations and that the Geneva meeting is essentially a result of intense international pressure. | Seasoned observers suggest neither party is sincere in wanting to resume negotiations and that the Geneva meeting is essentially a result of intense international pressure. |
| The last round of discussions was in Geneva in February. Two subsequent attempts at talks failed, most recently in June. | The last round of discussions was in Geneva in February. Two subsequent attempts at talks failed, most recently in June. |
| Since then the international landscape has changed significantly for both sides, our correspondent says. | Since then the international landscape has changed significantly for both sides, our correspondent says. |
| The rebels have been blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and Canada. | The rebels have been blacklisted as a terrorist organisation by the European Union and Canada. |
| The government, meanwhile, is concerned about losing its international credibility. | The government, meanwhile, is concerned about losing its international credibility. |
| Both parties have been criticised for human rights abuses, while, on the military front, both have suffered reversals of fortune. | Both parties have been criticised for human rights abuses, while, on the military front, both have suffered reversals of fortune. |