Pranab assures cooperation in Nepal's peace process

Kathmandu, Dec 18: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee met leaders of various political parties in Nepal and expressed India's continued cooperation in the ongoing peace process in the Himalayan country.

Mr Mukherjee,who was here yesterday on a brief one day visit to hand over the invitation letter to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala for the 14th SAARC summit to be held in New Delhi in April next year, also held, meetings with General Secretary of the CPN, UML Madhav Kumar Nepal and president of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) Sher Bahadur Deuba and assured India's cooperation for the ongoing peace process.

The also welcomed the interim constitution inked by seven parties coalition government and the Maoists, removing any role King Gyanendra in the state affairs of the Himalayan nation, which was ruled by the Kings for 238 years. Mr Mukherjee is the first Minister from India to visit Nepal after the historic changes ushered in by the People's Movement of April 2006.

UNI