A high-level delegation of the European Union (EU), arrived in Kathmandu on a three-day visit to monitor the state of conflict in Nepal and suggest ways to settle it.

Foreign Ministry sources confirmed the arrival of the EU troika in the afternoon. The troika will also exert pressure on Nepali authorities to find solution of the Bhutanese refugee problem. The EU has been advocating for a respectful and early repatriation of the refugees.

The EU team is be led by Robert Milders, director for Asian affairs of the Foreign Ministry of the Netherlands that holds the EU Presidency, comprises of Peggy Frantzen of Luxembourg as a representative of upcoming EU presidency and Laurence Argimon-Pistre, head of the South Asia unit of the European Commission. An official from the General Secretariat of the European Council is also in the team.

During the tour, the troika will meet Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, senior government officials including the top brass of the security agencies and the representatives of the international community in Nepal. This is the first tour of a high-level EU delegation to Nepal.

The EU has been vocal to an inclusive settlement of the Maoist problem and has stood in favour of multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy. nepalnews.com mbk Dec 13 04