UK offers USD 8 m for Nepal peace; Malik meets Dr Bhattarai
The United Kingdom has pledged US$ 8 million for the peace process in Nepal.
Visiting British International Development Minister Shahid Malik offered the grant aid during his meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala held at Baluwatar Wednesday morning.
Koirala’s foreign affairs advisor Dr Suresh Chalise told reporters after the meeting that the UK minister described the Maoist decision to quit government as unfortunate and stressed the need political consensus.
In a press conference organised at Hotel Radisson before he left for his country, Malik expressed disappointment over the Maoist decision to pull out from the government, but said that his meeting with PM Koirala and Dr. Bhattarai has made him “cautiously optimistic” about the peace process getting back on track.
“Both of them (PM Koirala and Dr. Bhattarai) told me that they are committed to making the peace process work, and I am cautiously optimistic that over the coming days and weeks this will be possible,” he said.
Saying that only credible elections offer the best hope of maintaining peace and development, Malik said, “Peace and development go hand in hand. We urge the government to move forward with both. The UK as a significant development partner is committed to providing support for both in the years ahead.”
He further said that all the parties in Nepal should participate in the CA elections and that it should not just be about winning the elections but also about wining peace.
Earlier today, Malik met with senior Maoist leader Dr Baburam Bhattarai and expressed worry over the Maoist party’s departure from the government.
At the meeting, Bhattarai is learnt to have claimed that the CPN-M was compelled to quit the government and mentioned that there could be a compromise if two demands -immediate announcement of republic and fully proportional election system - were met. nepalnews.com mk/ag Sep 19 07
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