Hostile Stares to Handshakes: Another Chance for Peace

Daily Mirror, Sri Lanka
OPINION

By Farah Mihlar Ahamed

Geneva – Anton Balasingham can smile after all. The stern, hard look he adorned on the opening day of the Geneva talks, had melted a day later into a cordial smile, whether it was because he had become more comfortable with his adversaries or if it was because he got what he wanted, is the key question.

The government delegation were all smiles all along, though it wasn’t clear what warranted it, considering that the red carpet had been pulled from under their feet even before they approached the negotiating table.

It would be misleading to negate the success of the Geneva talks. As journalists, anxious to hear the outcome of the talks, were kept waiting for more than two hours, speculation was rife that the parties were unable to reach agreement. Several scenarios were being conjured, including the possibility of the Norwegian facilitator Erik Solheim walking in and informing the media that a joint agreement could not be reached.

More:http://www.dailymirror.lk/2006/02/25/opinion/2.asp