No emergency during elections
Deuba rejects talks with Maoists

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept. 3: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said that he would consult with all those concerned, including the political parties, to see if the State of Emergency needs to be extended.
Premier Deuba, who returned here after his nine-day visit of Europe, confirmed that there would be no emergency during the general elections slated for November 13th.

"I will discuss the matter with all those concerned and scrutinise the present situation to see whether the emergency needs to be reimposed," he told the media at the VVIP Lounge of Tribhuwan International Airport.

"There will be no emergency once the candidates for the general elections file their nomination and start campaigning. The emergency cannot continue during the elections."

Citing that security has improved over the months, the Prime Minister rejected any idea of holding talks with the Maoists. "We did talk with them, but they walked away from the dialogue table. There is no possibility of bringing them to dialogue forcibly."

Apart from shedding his views on the nation's current situation, Prime Minister also talked about the objectives and achievements of his European sojourn.

He said that the main objective of his European tour was to improve Nepal's relations with Belgium, the European Union and Thailand and to seek their cooperation.

"The talks with Prime Minister and Deputy Prime Minister of Belgium, Prime Minister of Thailand, Chairman of EU and Vice Chairman of European Parliament were productive."

Deuba disclosed that these leaders had shown interest in sending observers for the November hustings. "We have planned to invite them," he said.

He, however, denied that he had gone to consult with the European leaders on whether to hold talks or launch another round of operation against the terrorists by extending the state of emergency.
" I did not go there to seek advice, but went to improve Nepal's relations with the EU and EC."
The Prime Minister said that he aborted his planned trip to Johannesburg for the Earth Summit due to the unfavourable situation back home and also because the prolonged stay in South Africa would have meant a lot of expenses. "The situation at home does not allow me to stay for long outside and also it would have incurred a lot of expenses to the nation."

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