Statement by Mr. Norio Hattori, Press Secretary/Director-General for Press and Public Relations, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regarding the Formal Ceasefire Agreement in Sri Lanka

February 22, 2002

The Government of Japan welcomes the fact that the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE have signed the ceasefire agreement through the facilitation of the Government of Norway, and commends wholeheartedly the realization of formal indefinite ceasefire between the both parties.
The Government of Japan strongly hopes that the both parties will observe the ceasefire agreement, thereby creating environment conducive to commencement of peace talks. It is a strong desire of the Government of Japan that the actual negotiations between the Government of Sri Lanka and the LTTE will commence at the earliest possible date.

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