One of Sri Lanka's senior Muslim leaders said Thursday that the new Norwegian special peace envoy on Sri Lanka Jon Hanssen-Bauer has come with a clear strategy and a new approach in order to push forward the peace process with the Tamil Tiger rebels.

Rauff Hakeem, the leader of the Sri Lanka Muslim Congress (SLMC) held talks with Hanssen-Bauer to discuss the concerns of the Muslim community in taking forward the Norwegian backed process with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) rebels.

Hakeem told reporters that the new Norwegian envoy clearly wishes to move away from the talks on the truce agreement and step into political discussions which would make a final resolution of the conflict possible.

"On the ceasefire issue the new envoy feels that the parties should move away from acrimonious issues and explore ways to send positive signals to the other party particularly on confidence building issues," Hakeem said.

Hanssen-Bauer is on his first visit to the island since being appointed to the role of the special envoy.

He was joined here Thursday by his predecessor, Erik Solheim, who is now the Norwegian minister for international development.

They both met with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse to discuss the developments in the peace effort and this month's talks between the Tigers and the government in Geneva.

Hanssen-Bauer on Wednesday visited the rebel held Kilinochchi where the rebels once again raised concerns of the alleged paramilitary groups working with the government.

The Tamil Tiger rebels told Hanssen-Bauer that building confidence was vital towards the progress in the peace process.

The rebels blamed the government for its failure to fulfill the pledges made in Geneva in February to end para-military activities.

The LTTE accuses the military of harboring the renegade group led by their former Eastern Province military commander, Karuna.

Source: Xinhua