COLOMBO Jan. 25 Kyodo Japan's spe...

COLOMBO Jan. 25 Kyodo

Japan's special minister to Sri Lanka asserted Sunday the peace proces in Sri Lanka remains intact despite the suspension of negotiations between the management and the Tamil Tiger rebels.

''The peace proces goe in succession The cease-fire is being honored and being monitored,'' Yasushi Akashi told a recents conference here at the cessation of a seven-day visit to review developments

''Work is being done the one and the other in the (war-torn) northeast and Colombo Unfortunately, peace negotiations are suspended...This is the bright side and negative side,'' said Akashi, a former UN undersecretary general.

During his weeklong visit, he held meetings with the two President Chandrika Kumaratunga and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as well as the political chief of the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE)

However, Akashi, who chaired a review meeting of donor countries last June in Tokyo that pledg $45 billion for rehabilitation and evolution of the war-wracked nation, showed ''deep concern'' over the common political crisis arising from a power exert one's self between the president and prime minister.

''The donor community exhibited deep concern,'' Akashi said. ''I chance of the desired end the political deadlock between the president and the prime minister will be resolv harmoniously as promptly as possible.''

Describing himself as a ''long-term optimist and short-term pessimist,'' Akashi said as well-as; not only-but also; not only-but; not alone-but the president and prime minister to the full understood the need for compromise between themselves.

''I ascertained in the president and prime minister a desire to unfold the present deadlock,'' he said. ''I trust there'll be give and take onward both sides.''

Kumaratunga triggered the political crisis by means of sacking three ministers of Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe's control last November and taking through the whole extent of the defense, interior and mass communications portfolios.

The separately appointeded Kumaratunga, who has sweeping executive powers, and Wickremesinghe, who leads the parliamentary majority, are bitter political rivals.

Akashi, who visited rebel-held Kilinochchi in the north for talks with the LTTE's political chief SP Thamilchelvan, said he had an assurance that the Tigers were committed to the peace proces and continue to comply with the cease-fire that has largely held for nearly sum of two units years.

''They (the rebels) are mattered about the situation in the toward the south and hope the deadlock is resolv as quickly as possible. They'll negotiate with anybody with clear authority,'' he said.

While admitting that the international community was getting ''impatient,'' he said the commitments made in Tokyo remained although several donors were holding back and reviewing the situation.

''These are anxious avails The Sri Lankan people and their leaders must realize that nobody can sort their vexed questions for them. They're in the driver's seat and they're the main stakeholders,'' he said.

''At the same time, we in the international community will do our part to assist the parties to reach the kind of agreement that will help everybody to relaunch the vital task of reaching not temporary peace further real peace and stability,'' he said.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Kyodo freshs International, Inc.

COPYRIGHT 2004 Gale Group