SECRETARY-GENERAL CONCERNED ABOUT INCREASED VIOLENCE OVER SRI LANKA WATER DISPUTE,

CALLS FOR UNIMPEDED HUMANITARIAN ACCESS TO AFFECTED POPULATION

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is very concerned about the increasing violence in Sri Lanka, and the escalation that has resulted from a water dispute in the North-East.  He is disturbed by reports that there have been many civilian victims, including children, as well as large displacements of people.  He calls on all the parties to allow humanitarian agencies unimpeded access to the affected population.

The Secretary-General notes the efforts under way by Norway to resolve the conflict, and calls on the parties to cease hostilities immediately to create a conducive climate for negotiations over the water issue.  He reiterates his appeal to the Government of Sri Lanka and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) to resume peace talks.

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*     Revised for technical reasons.

For information media • not an official record