QUOTE UNQUOTE(Spotlight Weekly)

"I am confident and hopeful that the talks will be successful."

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, on the government-Maoist talks, in Himalaya Times.

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"How can there be talk of new election when there is a clear mandate for us? This smacks of conspiracy as well as foolishness on our part."

Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, former prime minister and senior leader of ruling Nepali Congress, in Gorkhapatra.

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"The Maoists want to disintegrate the country by raising communal and regional slogans. They consider the country's destruction as their success."

Madhav Kumar Nepal, leader of the main opposition and general secretary of Unified Marxist-Leninist, in Spacetime Daily.

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"It is meaningless to call for republic in a country where there is monarchy."

Girija Prasad Koirala, former prime minister and president of ruling Nepali Congress, in Himalaya Times.

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"By inviting a faction that stays in jungles and kills 10 people in the interim government, we would be triggering anarchy. What is the guarantee that tomorrow another faction will not follow suit?"

Taranath Rana Bhat, speaker of the House of Representatives, in Jana Bhawana.

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"The Nepali Congress party has never concealed information. Rather, we feel the party has been way too open."

Arjun Narsingh KC, newly appointed spokesman of Nepali Congress, saying his party would always work in a transparent manner, in Bimarsha.

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"There is no guarantee that the new constitution will set up republic. Therefore the demand for the constitutional assembly is unnecessary."

Bamdev Gautam, general secretary of Marxist Leninist, cautioning against the danger of losing the rights restored after 1990 by demanding for constitutional assembly election, while addressing a program at his party office.

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"Maintaining internal stability is the most important thing for Nepal. I hope and believe that under the leadership of His Majesty King Gyanendra and the government, Nepal can overcome all the difficulties, secure stability and concentrate on economic development."

Wu Congyong, Chinese Ambassador to Nepal, in Jana Bhawana.

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