Gov, Maoists agree to talk out differences

Kathmandu, Oct 8 (UNI) Breaking the ice, Nepalese government and the Maoists have agreed in principle to the resolution of all outstanding issues through dialogue, in a meeting which concluded here this evening.

Senior leaders of the seven parties and Maoists led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoists chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, discussed the draft interim constitution, presented by the interim constitution draft committee and further discussions will be held on Tuesday, a senior leader of the alliance told media after the meeting.

In addition to the draft interim constitution, election of constituent assembly, implementation of past agreements, arms management, relief to conflict-victims, socio-economic transformation and restructuring of the state were discussed in a cordial atmosphere, said a press release issued after the meeting.

The discussions, slated to have substantial ramifications, were positive and the next round of talks will be held on Tuesday, said the statement jointly signed by Home Minister and coordinator of the talks team Krishna Sitaula and Maoists spokesman and coordinator of the Maoists talks team Krishna Bahadur Mahara.

''There has been a consensual understanding to conduct elections to Constituent Assembly tentatively by April/May next year,' local media quoted Madhav Kumar Nepal, general secretary of the CPN, UML, a major constituent of the seven parties coalition as saying.

The meeting also agreed to appoint commissioners for the Election Commission as soon as possible, he said.

'We also discussed the weaknesses seen in the implementation of past agreements and the management of the Maoists arms,'' Nepal said.

''Maoists have said that the issue of arms will not remain as obstruction if and when political issues are dealt with,'' Nepal quoted Maoists leaders as saying during the meeting.

This is the first high level meeting between the government and the Maoists since June, however meetings between the two sides are being held at various levels.

The Maoists and the government have declared cease-fire since the formation of the new government through the revival of the House in May.

The seven parties have agreed to the main demand of the Maoists to hold elections to the constituent assembly to formulate a new constitution and decide the fate of 237 year old monarchy in the Himalayan nation.

The two sides have agreed to resolve the political problem through peaceful dialogue and have signed agreements to this effect in the past.

More than 13,000 people have been killed since the insurgency began in 1996.

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