12/05/2003 (Agence Europe) - John Cushnahan (EPP-ED, Ireland), who was the EU Chief Observer for the Sri Lanka General Elections on two occasions, has returned to visit this country again, being called upon to assist negotiations between the government and the LTTE. In a press release, the MEP welcomes the "dramatic transformation in the political and security landscape" of Sri Lanka, but regrets that the LTTE, although it plans to keep to the ceasefire, has withdrawn from the talks. LTTE leaders are rightly annoyed at their exclusion (by US authorities) from the Washington preparatory conference, the Fine Gael member states. However, he also warns that the continued kidnappings and recruitment of children and assassination of political opponents destabilises the peace process. Mr Cushnahan stresses in this context the importance of the Sri Lanka Monitoring Mission which, he says, must be reinforced.