CFSP Statements

Declaration by the Presidency on behalf of the European Union to welcome the agreement by the Government and the LTTE to hold talks, with alignment of third countries of 31 January 2006

The European Union welcomes the agreement between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE to hold talks in Switzerland with a view to reinforcing the Ceasefire Agreement concluded in February 2002 and to improving its implementation.

The EU commends Minister Eric Solheim for his longstanding and untiring efforts for a peaceful resolution of the conflict in Sri Lanka. The EU reiterates its full support for Norway's role as facilitator in the peace process.

The EU expresses its firm hope that the talks will help stabilize the situation in Sri Lanka and lead to a peaceful solution of the conflict.

The Acceding Countries Bulgaria and Romania, the Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia*, the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia and Montenegro, and the EFTA country Liechtenstein, member of the European Economic Area, as well as Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova align themselves with this declaration.

* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.