Prachanda hopes for change in US policy

Kathmandu, Sept 25 : Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda has expressed his dissatisfaction over the fact that the US government has not changed its viewpoint toward Nepal's Maoists.

Speaking at a talk programme organized by the Asia Society in New York, Prachanda said that he had conveyed his dissatisfaction to US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asian Affairs Richard Boucher during a meeting with him.

He said he asked Bouchar why the US government was still reluctant to change its view of the Maoists even after they have come a long way in the peace process and came into power through a democratic election.

Prachanda said Nepal's priority at present was to bring the ongoing peace process to a logical conclusion, frame a new Constitution and achieve economic prosperity.

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

On Monday, Prachanda attended a reception hosted by US President George W. Bush and Laura Bush on the occasion of the sixty-third session of United Nations General Assembly in New York.

During the brief meeting, Bush assured Prachanda that Washington would continue its cooperation for Nepal's political transformation, Kantipur reported.

ANI