UN Representative discusses arms management with Koirala

Kathmandu, Dec 7 (UNI) Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Nepal, Ian Martin, met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today and discussed the issue of arms management in Nepal.

The government and the Maoists last week signed the agreement for the management of the arms before holding the election to the constituent assembly by June 2007.

The international community fully supports Nepal's peace process and 25 countries have shown interest to send representatives for UN technical and monitoring teams, he said after returning from New York where he had discussed Nepal's peace process with UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

He said that the UN's legal department had studied the peace agreement and has suggested to clarify some points. ''We will ask both the sides to clarify those points,'' he added.

''I will sign the agreement on managing the arms and the Army after amendmending a few points,'' Mr Martin further added.

The UN technical team will start arriving by the end of this week, he said.

Nepal government and the Maoists have agreed to hold the election to the constituent assembly and manage the arms under the monitoring of the UN.

UNI XC DKA BS1410