PM-UK Minister meet
Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the new government to be formed soon would be "inclusive and consensual" while adding that he would "make way" for it after the parties prepare the constitutional ground first.
In a meeting with UK Minister for International Development for Asia Shahid Malik at his official residence in Baluwatar Sunday, PM Koirala informed that the political parties are engaged in intense discussions to form an all-party government and that there would soon be a breakthrough on this.
During the meeting Malik, who arrived in Nepal on a three-day visit Friday, also queried about the role of United Nations Mission in Nepal.
In response PM Koirala said that since UNMIN's term will expire on July 23 there would be final decision on whether to extend its term or not by July 1, according to Aditya Baral, PM Koirala's foreign affairs advisor.
The current political scenario of the country including the financial assistance the UK government can provide to Nepal also featured very highly during the talk.
On Saturday, Malik announced the UK government's $55 million grant aid for the construction of rural roads over the next four years in various districts of Nepal.
Immediately after the meeting Malik went to Nayabazaar residence of CPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prahanda' to meet him.
Malik is also scheduled to meet UML general secretary Jhala Nath Khanal at his party office later today and then meet other top party leaders to take stock of Nepal's political situation.
Malik is flying back to his country after ending his three-day visit to Nepal, the second in the span of few months.
Meanwhile, Chief Justice Kedar Prasad Giri, Sunday, left for a four-day official visit to the UK. During his visit, the Chief Justice will meet with members of the UK judiciary at the highest level, including the UK Lord Chief Justice, and the Attorney General, as well as officials from the UK Ministry of Justice, and legal institutions.
"The objective of the visit is to help inform the Supreme Court's programme of reform and will look at such issues as judicial accountability, transparency and efficiency, and the use of e-judiciary in the UK," states a press release issued by the British Embassy in Kathmandu
"The UK greatly values the role of the Supreme Court in promoting justice and human rights in Nepal and believes that respect for the law is fundamental in creating an accountable and democratic society. The UK encourages the Government of Nepal to continue to protect and promote the neutrality and independence of the judiciary," the release adds.
"The UK also urges all parties to respect the decisions of the Supreme Court. It has been a year since the Supreme Court decision on disappearances ordering the Government to form a high-level commission of enquiry on disappearances, as well as to criminalise enforced disappearance. The UK urges the Government to live up to its commitments on this and other key human rights issues." nepalnews.com ag Jun 22 08
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