35 Quotes by Erik Solheim

There is a tendency to wait for Norway to arrive and pull a rabbit out of a hat. There should be no doubt that it is up to the two parties to resolve (their problems), with the help of Norway and the international community.

We call upon both the government and the LTTE to immediately come to the table and immediately discuss the cease-fire. Venue is not the central issue. The central issue is simply to come to table.

We call upon both the government and the L.T.T.E. to immediately come to the table and immediately discuss the ceasefire. Venue is not the central issue. The central issue is simply to come to table.

We are working with the parties on an hour-to-hour basis to do whatever possible to bring them back to the negotiating table in Geneva as soon as possible and to put a stop to this violence.

We will do whatever we can from the Norwegian side to try and find a solution ... to the present withering situation at the peninsula, and also to the long time settlement of the Tamil aspirations,

There is real enthusiasm for peace but possibly not real enthusiasm for the necessary compromises. I would not advise on the specifics of the compromises. It's a complex matter.

The parties are taking a small but very significant step towards putting the peace process back on a positive track. And we expect the negotiations to be tough.

What should be achieved is increasing confidence between the parties and agreement for a new meeting.

Both sides have agreed on the need to meet and decide how the cease-fire can be implemented better.