UN mission chief meets Prachanda
Karin Landgren, chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), met Prachanda yesterday and stressed the need for extending the assembly's tenure to avert a constitutional crisis in the country.
Concerned over a possible political deadlock in Nepal, the UN has appealed to Maoists chief Prachanda to take immediate steps to extend the tenure of the Constituent Assembly, which expires on Friday.
Karin Landgren, chief of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), met Prachanda yesterday and stressed the need for extending the assembly's tenure to avert a constitutional crisis in the country.
During the talks, she underlined the importance of moving forward on core issues of the peace process, including drafting of the new Constitution and integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel.
Local media reports said Prachanda assured Landgren that his party would make all efforts to arrive at a consenus on extending the Constituent Assembly's tenure.
The term of the Constituent Assembly expires on May 28 and a new constitution should be drafted by then. But the government is planning to amend the constitution to extend the term of the current house for one year so that it could draft the new constitution by then. But a national consensus has not yet emerged on this issue.
Meanwhile, a European Union delegation has arrived in Nepal to take stock of the situation in Nepal.
Nepal government has asked the EU delegation not to go ahead with their plans to meet representatives of two armed outfits - Limbuwan and Khambuwan Morachas - during their stay, Republica daily reported.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed serious objection to the proposed meeting between delegates of the European Parliament and representatives of these ethnic based groups.
"These types of meetings are against established diplomatic norms and international practices and are likely to have serious repercussions on excellent bilateral relations between Nepal and the EU," a ministry statement said.