Chandrika wants core issues settled

President Chandrika Kumaratunga has told Norwegian peace facilitators that an interim administration for Sri Lanka8217;s North and East should be established after 8216;8216;core issues8217;8217; relating to the region8217;s future were sorted out.

All such 8216;8216;core issues8217;8217; should be included in the agenda for proposed peace talks between the government and the LTTE in Thailand, she told the delegation headed by Norway8217;s Deputy Foreign Minister Vidar Helgesen, the Presidential Secretariat said on Tuesday. 8216;8216;The interim administration should not be implemented until the core issues are finalized,8217;8217; it said.

As the Norwegians set about the task of evolving an acceptable agenda for the talks, inviting suggestions from both sides, the President8217;s stand on an organic link between any interim arrangement and substantive political negotiations towards a final settlement acquires importance.