US Secretary of State against allowing "armed groups in the political process"

Stating that there were concerns in the United States about the conduct of Maoists, the US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice has said that "at the very least armed groups should not be allowed to stay in the political process."

She said that the US wanted stable and prosperous democracy in Nepal and hoped that the peace process will go well.

Rice made these remarks during her meeting with the visiting Nepalese deputy prime minister and foreign minister KP Oli in Washington DC on September 28.



Foreign Minister KP Oli (file photo)

During the meeting, Oli briefed Rice about the ongoing peace process and informed that the government was trying its best to convert the peace process into permanent peace.

Oli also requested Rice for the US support in launching the rehabilitation work particularly in the transition phase.

The two leaders also discussed about the Bhutanese refugee issue. Oli said that he wanted to hold "one decisive meeting with the Bhutanese side as soon as possible." Rice assured him of US help in resolving the refugee issue.

"As for preferential trade agreement involving textiles, she said the US side could sit and work together with the Nepalese side on areas of Nepal's economic development," states a press release issued by the Nepalese Embassy in Washington DC.

Oli also broached the issue of Nepal's candidature for the non-permanent membership of UN Security Council for 2007/08. On his request for US support towards Nepal's candidature, Rice responded by saying "we are good friends, and we will certainly take it very seriously."

Earlier, on the same day, Oli, addressing a talk program organized by The Heritage Foundation in Washington DC, said the Nepal government currently had three major objectives: protecting and consolidating democracy; ending armed conflict by bringing Maoists into peaceful democratic political mainstream; and holding free and fair elections to the Constituent Assembly.

Oli said that the government was in negotiation with the Maoists to achieve those objectives. "Our goal is clear and our commitment to peace, democracy and progress unshakeable," he said. nepalnews.com sd Sep 29 06