The negotiating teams of the government and the CPN (Maoist) started the first phase of direct talks as part of creating an atmosphere for formal talks and finalize the talks code of conduct in Kathmandu Friday.

The talks between the government team, which is headed by Home Minister KP Sitaula, and Maoist team led by Krishna Bahadur Mahara started at Gokarna Forest Resort at the outskirts of Kathmandu at around 4:15 p.m.

Talking to journalists before the commencement of the talks, leader of the Maoist negotiating team, Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that his main agenda is the election of the constituent assembly and added that he was optimistic this time around.

Likewise, leader of the government talk team, Krishna Prasad Sitaula said that he was optimistic about the success of talks as all people are optimistic about it.

Sitaula, who reached the venue – Gokarna Forest Resort – half an hour before the stipulated time, said discuss all issues would be discussed in the meeting.

However, minister Pradip Gyawali, another government negotiator, informed that they would hold the talks on code of conduct and modalities for upcoming formal talks.

The government team also includes minister of state for Labour and Transport Management, Ramesh Lekhak, while Maoist politburo members Dev Gurung and Dina Nath Sharma are participating in the talks.

According to our correspondent on the scene, the Maoist team arrived at the venue in a car followed by party cadres who came in a microbus.

The Maoists broke the second round of talks with the government in August 2003, blaming the government of provoking them to announce the breakdown of ceasefire.

“We decided to sit for talks giving supreme priority to people’s will to find a peaceful political outlet,” Prachanda had said in a statement on August 27, 2003 , announcing the breakdown of talks.

The rebel chieftain said the concept paper presented in the third round of peace talks by the ‘old regime’ and massacre of 19 by the royal army in Doramba, Ramechhap district, are the main reasons for the ceasefire to collapse.

The Maoists and the government started second round of peace talks after Maoist announced ceasefire on January 29.

The second peace talks ended after both the sides remained adamant to their agendas during the third phase of peace talks held at Hapure village of Purandhara VDC in Dang in August.

The first talk was held between the government and the Maoists in Kathmandu in 2001 that started after the government and the Maoists announced ceasefire in July 23. However the Maoists broke the ceasefire on November 23.

The Maoists had demanded an interim government, round table conference and election to constituent assembly during that negotiation.