Prachanda discuss bilateral ties, peace process with various world leaders

Washington, Sept 25 : Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda, who is in New York to attend the 63rd United Nations General Assembly, on Thursday discussed the expansion of bilateral ties and the country's peace process with various world leaders.

He held meeting with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa, Turkish President Abdullah Gul and International Development Minister for Norway Erik Solheim separately today.

This is Prachanda's maiden tour to the United States, which still includes his party the Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist (CPN-M) on its terrorist watch-list.

He expressed his dissatisfaction over US government's unchanged standpoint on his party.

While speaking at a programme organised by the Asia Society in New York on Wednesday, Dahal said he has conveyed his dissatisfaction to US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher during a meeting.

He added that he questioned Boucher on why the US government was still reluctant to change its view even after the peace process and successful democratic elections.

"I hope the gap between us will be bridged soon," Dahal said in an answer to a question.

He said at present Nepal's top most priority is to bring the ongoing peace process to a logical conclusion, frame a new constitution and achieve economic prosperity.

"But we believe that an enduring peace is not possible without economic prosperity," Dahal said, adding that the US should cooperate with Nepal's new government in its efforts at economic progress if it wanted to see a peaceful and stable Nepal.

He also met leaders from Russia, Cuba and some other countries in New York.

Prime Minister Dahal had flown to New York along with a 14-member Nepali delegation on Saturday.

ANI