Tamrat Samuel, Director of the Asia-Pacific Division of the United Nations Department of Political Affairs (DPA), has engaged in top-level political parleys on Nepal's current political situation.

Tamrat met Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the latter's residence in Lazimpat, discussing mainly the peace process and the constitution-drafting.

During the meeting, the UN representative, who was deputy chief of the then UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), is known to have underscored the need to forge early consensus between the political parties to achieve concrete progress on peace process and constitution-drafting and mentioned that the UN was ready to extend necessary support for early completion of the twin tasks.

The Maoist chairman on his part said his party and he would personally make contribution to find early consensus.

Tamrat, who arrived in Nepal on Friday, also met UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal at the latter's residence and discussed the same issues. He is also scheduled to meet Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala. nepalnews.com