UML leader inaugurates party office

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JANAKPURDHAM, Jan. 31: CPN-UML general secretry Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the seventh general convention of the party beginning tomorrow at Janakpur would take important decisions having far reaching effect in the national politics.

Inaugurating an office of the Dhanusha District Committee of the party here today, he expressed the view that the general convention would provide specific direction to resolve the complicated problem of the country. CPN-UML district committee secretary Ratneshwar Goit presided over the programme.
Meanwhile, the central committee meeting of the CPN-UML that began yesterday has emphasised the need to hold talks with the Maoists in transparent manner on the basis of political consensus.
The meeting has stated that dialogue should revolve around safeguarding the achievement of 1990 and consolidation of the multi-party democracy.

Convenor of the publicity subcommittee of the general convention Ishwar Pokharel informed the meeting had also selected five per cent of the representatives (48 persons). CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal is scheduled to inaugurate the general convention at the local Rangbhumi (Barhabigha) at noon tomorrow.

Various organisations hope for peace

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 31: Different political parties, human rights groups, NGOs, and business organisations have taken the declaration of ceasefire by the CPN-Maoist and the government with a positive note.

"It is timely and very positive," National Human Right Commission said in a press statement today.
Stating that the Commission had incessantly been urging both the sides to observe ceasefire and to hold peace talks, it said, "The Commission requests all concerned to keep up the cease-fire on the basis of mutual confidence and for a meaningful dialogue." The Commission is always ready to play a role for translating the ceasefire into peace, the statement reads.

The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) hoped that the ceasefire would result in permanent peace. The country's economic and tourism sectors have dipped down continuously because of murder, violence and insecure atmosphere for the last seven years, it said. CWIN has also expressed its happiness on the suspension of all its military actions, and has welcomed the government's decision to withdraw the price tag on the heads of the Maoist rebel leaders and the red corner notice for the arrest of the Maoist leaders. CWIN said that it sincerely hoped that the announcement of ceasefire would lead to end of the bloody war being in place for the last 7 years.

The Institute of Human Rights Communications, Nepal (IHRICON), in a press statement, has also welcomed the ceasefire announced by the Maoists and the government, saying it has give a sigh of relief to the people who have been under a two-prong assault of violence and terror. IHRICON said that it hoped the ceasefire will lead to a permanent solution to the Maoist problem, and has appealed human rights activities, media and the common people to help maintain the ceasefire and the talks a success.

Scientific journal launched

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 31: A new scientific journal "Himalayan Journal of Sciences" was launched Friday which treats the readers with a variety of materials, including research papers, review papers, opinion columns, policy issues, essays and commentaries.

The journal is the first of its kind to hit the scientific circle as it follows the layout and presentation style of the renowned international science journals "Nature" and "Science", say the editors. Speaking highly about the coming of the half-yearly journal, Vice Chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) Professor Dayananda Bajracharya said research activities, which generate the storehouse of knowledge, are in a dismal state in Nepal.

Knowledge is power but 85 per cent of knowledge is concentrated in the developed nations where only 22 per cent of the people of the world live, said the RONAST vice chancellor. It is not a matter of money only. Much depends on our attitude and enthusiasm. "The scientific achievements of Einstein and Marie Curie came not out of big investment but keen pursuit of knowledge," he stated. Bajracharya added that an estimate has shown that about 22 people out of a million do active research works in Nepal.

Govinda Prasad Ghimire, Dean of the Central Department of Science of TU, lauded the bringing out of the science journal saying that the publication would keep coming out. Professor Ram Prasad Chaudhary and Professor Biswa Nath Agrawal presented their comments on the journal.

Editor Kumar Prasad Mainali said the journal gives priority to research works done in the Himalayan region of the country.

BP Koirala Institute meeting held

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 3l: The 23rd Management Council meeting of the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences was held today under the chairmanship of Pro Chancellor of the Institute and Minister for Health Dr Upendra Devkota.

On the occasion, Dr Devkota said the institute should try to include students from the Dalit, backward and ethnic communities in its programmes in keeping with the government's policy of fostering the reach of the poorer classes in society.

Pointing out that service oriented entities should not forget their values in the name of viability, he said the institute's services should be such as to reach the most number of people. Vice Chancellor of the Institute Dr Shekhar Koirala said some 75l students are currently studying at the institute at various levels and the institute has been meeting 50 per cent of its own expenses since the last fiscal year.

Ambassadors meet Pandey

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 3l: Japanese Ambassador Zenzi Kaminaga and Israeli Ambassador Avraham Nir met separately with Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey at the latter's office today.

On the occasion, they lauded the efforts made by His Majesty's Government for establishing peace and order in the country and said their respective countries would extend support and cooperation to this initiative.

Minister Pandey thanked them for their goodwill and said His Majesty's Government is always committed to resolving all problems through the medium of dialogue.