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Annan under pressure to visit Wanni

By Lasantha Wickrematunge in New York

UN Secretary General Kofi Annan is reconsidering his visit to Colombo following a diplomatic offensive launched by the LTTE requesting him to meet with the LTTE leadership in the Wanni.

The Secretary General is scheduled to visit Colombo on a three day visiton October 9, after which he is to visit India and Malaysia.

LTTE Political Wing Leader Tamilselvan last week informed the Norwegian Ambassador in Colombo, the 'LTTE leadership and the Tamil people' would like to receive the Secretary General in the Wanni.

That request was made after the Norwegian Ambassador info- rmed Tamilselvan the Secretary Generalwas prepared to meet with a representative of the LTTE in Colombo or the Katunayake Airport.

The intention of meeting with the LTTE is to take stock of the work carried out by UN agencies in LTTE controlled areas. The government however has objected to the Secretary General meeting the LTTE leadership in the Wanni since it could be interpreted as giving the rebel organisation the status of a separate country.

The US is expected to name the LTTE in its revised list of terrorist organisations due to be released days before the Secretary General's visit to Colombo and diplomatic sources in the UNsaid it would cause ripples in the UN if Annan was to call on the LTTE leadership in the Wanni at a time there was a global initiative against terrorism, particularly since the LTTE is yet to enter the democratic mainstream.

It is learnt that Norwegian facilitators are however keen to ensure the Secretary General calls on the LTTE leadership to maintain their impartial role in the peace process.

Prime Minister Ranil Wickre- mesinghe who met Secretary General Annan on Friday said he could meet the LTTE in Colombo, Katunayake Airport or Omanthai, which is in a government controlled area.

However, the Secretary General has been under pressure from a LTTE lobby in the UN and a section of the Norwegian facilitation team that he calls on the LTTE leadership in the Wanni if he is to visit Sri Lanka prompting the Secretary General's office to inform Foreign Secretary Designate Bernard Goonetilleke on Thursday in New Yorkthe Secretary General will not be able to keep to his original schedule due to logistical difficulties.

However, following representations made by the Prime Minister and Economic Reforms Minister Milinda Moragoda on Friday to Annan, the Secretary General agreed to reconsider his decision to postpone the visit.

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