British minister stresses on quick govt formation to tackle security challenges
The United Kingdom Minister for International Development has called on the formation of consensus government to tackle security challenges.
Stating that without peace, there will not be prosperity, the visiting minister Shahid Mallik said, "There are still challenges in terms of security and those challenges will not be met until the formulation of new government, which can take responsibility for criminalization and violence that does exist in Nepal society."
"Nepal first of all needs a government that will bring security and the rule of law. The vacuum of governance urgently needs to be addressed. With security people can go about their daily lives without hindrance; with security investment can happen, businesses can flourish and create more jobs; with security it will be possible for government to deliver development to the people," he said.
Mallik who met with prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Maoist chairman Prachanda, Unified Marxist Leninist (UML) general secretary Jhal Nath Khanal and Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF) coordinator Upendra Yadav, on Sunday, held a press meeting before returning home after wrapping up a three day visit.
On the issue of ongoing meetings among party leaders, Mallik had this to say, "Let's hope that they are able to in their meetings in the next few days come to some kind of consensus and deliver a government of national unity, which they all agree is the best way to move forward."
The minister also announced US$ 55 million in aid over four years to help the government unite all of rural Nepal through roads.
This was Minister Mallik's second visit to Nepal within a year. He returned home on Sunday. nepalnews.com sd Jun 22 08 08
