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In an emerging diplomatic row, the Sri Lanka Government has said that it is highly disturbed by Norway's Oversea's Development Minister Eric Solheim's unilateral statement about Colombo agreeing to participate in next week's peace talks without even consulting it. The Government has said actually it is surprised by Solheim's statement. Solheim was earlier quoted as saying in Brussels: "We will have the talks in the first week of October in Oslo". "The Government of Sri Lanka is highly disturbed with regard to the statement made by the Norwegian facilitator, as the government neither agreed for un-conditional talks nor was consulted. Thus the co-chairs, the international community and the general public have been misled," a daily newspaper quoted Government website as saying. "Norwegian Special Envoy Mr. Eric Solheim was quoted by local and international media as saying that both the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have agreed for unconditional talks with immediate effect. To the surprise of the Government, Mr. Solheim has reported to have announced that the talks would take place in Oslo, first week of October," the website statement added. Colombo has now accused Solheim of issuing statement on an internal matter of Sri Lanka without seeking its permission. The Government said Solheim's mentioning of the North East merger is unacceptable. "Mr. Solheim has also made reference to the north east merger. However, de-merger is a matter constitutionally vested with the general public of the country through a referendum. Furthermore, the 1987 Indo-Lanka peace accord deals with this issue in detail. The matter is also currently being challenged before the Supreme Court. Under these circumstances the facilitator making any statement with regard to an internal matter of Sri Lanka is unacceptable," the Government said. "During the Geneva talks I, the Government of Sri Lanka consented for talks with the LTTE and continues with maximum commitment for a peaceful settlement of the issue, despite a series of violations of the CFA by the LTTE," it said. "The LTTE's attempted assassination of the Army Commander, claiming the life of Major General Parami Kulatunge, attempted attacks on the Pearl Cruise, Jet Liner Cruise and mass massacre of innocent civilians in Kebithigollewa are few salient CFA violations by the LTTE. Government subsequently resorted to defensive military action in order to protect the national interests and the sovereignty of the land," it added.
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