Former US president Jimmy Carter, who arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit Wednesday, held series of high profile meetings today.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala shaking hands with visiting former US President Jimmy Carter after meeting the PM at his official residence in Baluwatar, Thursday, June 14 07. nepalnews.com/rh

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala shaking hands with visiting former US President…
Carter met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter’s residence in Baluwatar and discussed the ongoing peace process and the upcoming constituent assembly election. He also held separate meetings with Chief Election Commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel and UNMIN chief Ian Martin.

Emerging out of the meeting with Koirala, the former US president praised Koirala’s role in restoring democracy and peace in Nepal. “Koirala is a hero for me,” Carter said.

He also said he expressed his concern over holding free and fair CA election.

The two octogenarians held half-hour long meeting from 9:30 am. Carter did not respond to most of the queries of journalists gathered outside the PM’s residence.

Carter met with CEC Pokharel at the Election Commission and shared ideas on how CA polls could be conducted in a free and fair manner. Briefly talking to reporters, Cater said there was a need to improve security for free and fair polls.

The Carter Center, a non-profit global organisation working for peace and democracy, which was co-founded by Carter, has deployed a team of election monitors in Nepal since March this year.

Meanwhile, the former president also held discussion with Ian Martin at The Carter Center’s office. The meeting was focused mainly on the UN’s role in the peace process and CA polls.

While in Kathmandu, Carter is scheduled to meet top political leaders including Maoist chairman Prachanda, UML general secretary Madhav Nepal, army chief Rukmangud Katawal, diplomats and representatives of the civil society.

The meeting between Carter and Prachanda is taking place at a time when the US still places the Maoists in its terror watch list.