An LTTE delegation led by its political wing chief S.P. Thamilselvan is flying to Geneva today to discuss its ISGA proposals with its legal experts.
A special Air Force helicopter was scheduled to fly the ten-member delegation from Kilinochchi to the BIA for a flight from there to Geneva after dinner at the Airport Garden Hotel at Katunayake.
LTTE Peace Secretariat head Pulidevan, LTTE's police Chief Nadesan and Eastern Political head Kaushalyan are in the delegation. They are scheduled to travel from Geneva to Oslo on October 7 for talks with Norwegian facilitators Vidar Helgesen and Erik Solheim.
The delegation during their three-week tour is expected to meet United Nations officials in Geneva and political leaders in Ireland and Belgium.
The LTTE's chief negotiator Anton Balasingham is expected to join the delegation in Oslo.
"We will impress on the foreign governments to pressurize the Sri Lankan government to come back for talks immediately," Mr. Thamilselvan told Reuters yesterday before flying out of Kilinochchi.
He said the delegation would also appeal for funding to rebuild areas under the LTTE control in the north and east which he said still lay in ruins after years of crossfire and shelling.
Mr. Thamilselvan also said:
"We have clearly emphasized that we are always ready for the resumption of talks. That is the truth. The President does notseem to understand this."
The government insists the rebels must agree to talk permanent peace before granting interim self-rule, a Catch-22 situation paralyzing peace talks in an impasse that will likely stretch on for months.
