Erik Solheim
Erik Solheim
Erik Solheimis a Norwegian politician for the Socialist Left Party. He is currently Executive Director of UNEP, the United Nations' Environment Programme. Solheim was leader of the Socialist Youth from 1977 to 1981, party secretary from 1981 to 1985, and member of the Parliament of Norway from 1989 to 2001. He was party leader from 1987 to 1997. He was appointed Minister of International Development in 2005 and also Minister of the Environment in 2007, and sat in both offices until...
achieved agreement confidence increasing parties
What should be achieved is increasing confidence between the parties and agreement for a new meeting.
agreement both fire importance meet paramount parties start talks toward
It is of paramount importance that both parties should meet urgently and start talks toward consolidating the cease- fire agreement.
easy entire four island key major meeting religions small solved themselves time
I think there's no other place in the entire world where four major key world religions are meeting themselves on one small island and they all make up a substantial part of the population. If this was easy to solve, it would have been solved a long time back.
april geneva meet parties strongly urge
I strongly urge the two parties to meet in Geneva on April 19 - 21 as planned.
basis bring geneva parties possible soon stop table whatever
We are working with the parties on an hour-to-hour basis to do whatever possible to bring them back to the negotiating table in Geneva as soon as possible and to put a stop to this violence.
advise complex enthusiasm necessary peace possibly specifics
There is real enthusiasm for peace but possibly not real enthusiasm for the necessary compromises. I would not advise on the specifics of the compromises. It's a complex matter.
expect parties peace positive process putting small step taking towards
The parties are taking a small but very significant step towards putting the peace process back on a positive track. And we expect the negotiations to be tough.
confidence low start starts
There is little confidence at the start between the two sides. Confidence can only increase, but it starts at a low level.
arrive doubt help norway parties pull rabbit resolve tendency wait
There is a tendency to wait for Norway to arrive and pull a rabbit out of a hat. There should be no doubt that it is up to the two parties to resolve (their problems), with the help of Norway and the international community.
both call concerned deeply recent sides stop
We are all deeply concerned with the recent escalation of violence. We call upon both sides to put a stop to the violence.
climate conducive create violence
There is a need to create a climate that is conducive to peace. The violence has to stop.
assist both brief india norway peaceful purpose solution visit
The purpose of the visit is to brief India about what Norway had been doing. We will assist both India and Sri Lanka to find a peaceful solution to the problem.
crucial expect geneva moment moved peace process talks time
We expect the Geneva talks to go ahead. We are at a crucial moment where the peace process can be moved forward. The time is right now.
expect geneva venue
We expect Geneva to be the venue for such a meeting.