A European Union delegation called ‘EU Troika’ that arrived in Kathmandu Tuesday has held discussions with the government authorities, leaders of opposition political parties and National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday about the current political situation in Nepal.
The team led by Tom Phillips, the director for South Asia and Afghanistan in the United Kingdom Foreign and Commonwealth Office, representing the presidency of the EU, held discussion with Cabinet vice-chairman Dr Tulsi Giri and foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey.
They held discussions on the political situation of the country and the assistance of the European Union.
The EU troika also inquired about the government’s efforts to resolve the conflict and restoration of democratic process and the government’s view about the Maoists’ unilateral ceasefire call.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, Foreign Minister Pandey said the EU team appreciated government’s commitment of holding polls at the earliest.
The EU Troika met with Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at his residence in Maharajgunj this morning.
According to a press release issued by the Nepali Congress central office, serious discussion on ‘leading Nepal back on the path to democracy and peace’ took place between Koirala and the EU delegation.
“The delegation conveyed the position of the EU in an effort to restore constitutional rule, peace and democracy in Nepal. The delegation also appraised him on the recent resolution adopted by the European Parliament in support of peace and democracy in Nepal,” the statement said.
During the meeting, Koirala presented his road map to restore democracy and peace in the country. He said reinstatement of the dissolved House of Representatives was the first and most essential step to bring the democratic process back on track.
The EU troika is in Kathmandu on a three-day mission to assess Nepal’s recent political developments.
The team also met with CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and discussed the political development of the country.
Talking to journalists after the meeting, UML General Secretary Nepal informed that the team was positive towards the issues raised by the political parties.
Meanwhile, the EU troika delegation met president of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nayan Bahadur Khatri, this afternoon and discussed Nepal’s human rights situation and Maoists’ ceasefire during the meeting.
The EU troika also questioned about the recent reconstitution of the Commission and the incidents of disappearances in the country.
An EU Troika had visited Nepal in mid-December 2004 to acquire information on the state of the ongoing conflict in Nepal when Sher Bahadur Deuba was the Prime Minister.