PM Dahal meets Prez Bush, stresses stronger Nepal-US ties
Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and US President George W Bush shared
pleasantries and discussed bilateral relations between Nepal and the US
Monday night (Tuesday morning, according to Nepal Standard Time) in a
brief meeting during a dinner the US President hosted in honour of the
Heads of Delegations who reached New York to attend the 63rd General
Assembly of the United Nations.
Although the statement issued by Nepal mission in New York does not state
anything if PM Dahal held talks with President Bush on the occasion, but
reports quoted reliable sources as saying that the Nepali premiere
appeared in a jovial mood after his meeting with the US President.
Nepalipost.com, a US based website, quoted a member of the delegation as
saying that during the meeting PM Dahal stressed the need to further
consolidate the ties between Nepal and the US and "requested US support
for the economic revolution" Nepal hopes to achieve.
In response, President Bush assured the Nepali PM that Washington would
support Nepal even amid the changed political scenario.
Although America is yet to remove CPN (Maoist) from the "group of concern"
list U.S state department maintains that loosely defines the former rebel
party as a "terrorist outfit", during the meeting which is said to have
gone on for 10 minutes Bush was very cordial with PM Dahal.
PM Dahal along with his wife Sita had arrived at New York Monday afternoon
at 1:30 pm and was received at the airport by the Permanent Representative
of Nepal to the UN, Madhu Raman Acharya and Geeta Acharya. Ambassador of
Nepal to the United States Dr. Suresh Chandra Chalise. Officials of the
Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN were also present on the occasion.
A special security team escorted PM Dahal and his delegation from the
airport to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York.
PM Dahal is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday wherein
he will tell the world community about the recent political changes in
Nepal, the peace process and the achievement of the Maoist government he
leads. While in New York, PM Dahal will also attend programmes organised
by The Asia Society and India China Institute, according to reports. nepalnews.com ag/ia Sep 23 08
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