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Norway lauds J&K election; wants violence to end

Lauding the free and fair election in Jammu and Kashmir, Norway said it wanted the violence to end in the state.

"The election in Jammu and Kashmir has been encouraging and the process was good. They were free and fair," visiting Norwegian Foreign Minister Jan Peterson said after meetings with Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani and National Security Adviser Brajesh Mishra.

He said his country was 'against terrorism'.

Peterson, who arrived on Friday on a three-day visit, said issues relating to Pakistan, Afghanistan and those concerning the region came up for discussion with Advani and Mishra.

He had met External Affairs Minister Yashwant Sinha on Friday night.

On peace talks between the Sri Lankan government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam, which are being facilitated by Norway, he said, "I have come here to benefit from the Indian experience and for establishing closer contact with the Indian ministers."

Maintaining that the peace talks were at the top of Norway's agenda, he said the parleys have been going on 'very well' and the two parties have the 'will' to reach an accord.

"We know there are a lot of complicated issues that have to be addressed but it is very encouraging that the ceasefire entered into late February has held very well," Peterson said.

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