REPRESENTATIVES FROM NATIONS OVERSEEING THE SRI LANKA PEACE PROCESS WERE MEETING IN OSLO FRIDAY TO DISCUSS WAYS TO STOP THE ESCALATION OF VIOLENCE BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT AND TAMIL TIGER REBELS, AP REPORTED. THE EUROPEAN UNION, THE UNITED STATES, NORWAY AND JAPAN ARE THE SO-CALLED «CO-CHAIRS» OF THE PEACE PROCESS, ENSURING THAT THE SRI LANKA GOVERNMENT AND THE TAMIL TIGERS RESPECT A 2002 CEASE-FIRE ACCORD DESIGNED TO END TWO DECADES OF ARMED CONFLICTS. NORWAY'S INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MINISTER ERIK SOLHEIM WAS CHAIRING THE TALKS, WHICH WERE FOCUSING ON «WHAT CAN BE DONE TO GET THE PARTIES TO RESPECT THE CEASE-FIRE AND CONTINUE WITH THE PEACE PROCESS,» THE NORWEGIAN FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID. SRI LANKA, MEANWHILE, REOPENED ROADS LINKING GOVERNMENT AND REBEL-HELD TERRITORY FRIDAY AFTER TWO DAYS OF AIRSTRIKES AGAINST GUERRILLA AREAS ENDED, BUT THE THREAT OF A RETURN TO CIVIL WAR REMAINED AMID CONTINUING BLOODSHED. SOLHEIM, WHO ALSO ACTS AS A PEACE MEDIATOR IN THE CONFLICT, SAID HE IS «EXTREMELY CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECENT UPSURGE IN VIOLENCE» AND ASKED THE PARTIES TO «SIT DOWN FOR TALKS.»
