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Sitaula and Mahara claim they are close to clinching the deal on tripartite agreement

Despite sitting for over six hours, the joint team of the government, the Maoists and the United Nations failed to produce the much-awaited tripartite agreement on the modalities of management of arms and armed personnel.

However, both the government as well as the Maoist talks coordinators have claimed that they are very close to clinching the deal.

"We have practically completed the agreement. The draft is ready. We only need to give it final touches, which we will do tomorrow," said Krishna Sitaula, Home Minister and coordinator of government talks team.

Krishna Mahara, Maoist talks team coordinator, agreed with Sitaula, when he said, "We only need to complete (few details). I think we can conclude and sign the agreement tomorrow after sitting for one or two hours."

Both of them refused to elaborate which contentious points took them so long in reaching the tripartite agreement – in the absence of which they have not been able to promulgate interim constitution and form interim parliament.

On Monday, the meeting of the joint team was held since afternoon at Hotel Shangrila. The Maoist team included Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, Mahara and four deputy commanders of People's Liberation Army. The government talks team was accompanied by representatives of Nepali Army and Nepal Police. The UN team was also present during the discussion.

The UN officials have been saying that they can start the process of bringing the monitors on ground and initiate verification only after such a tripartite agreement is signed.

Meanwhile talking to reporters in Pokhara, Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said that the Maoists should only keep 10 weapons per camp for the purpose of providing security. Dr. Mahat claimed that it was the international norm and the Maoists, too, should follow it. His remarks have come at a time when there have been reports that one of the major contentious issues in the tripartite negotiations have been the quantity of weapons that the Maoists want to keep with them outside the camp to provide security. nepalnews.com sd Nov 27 06