Maoist chairman Prachanda said he requested the former US president Jimmy Carter to take initiative to withdraw US terrorist tag on his party.

CPN-M chairman shaking hands with visiting former US president Jimmy Carter, Friday, June 15 07. (Photo courtesy: The Carter Center)

CPN-M chairman shaking hands with visiting former US president Jimmy Carter,…
Talking to reporters after holding 50-minute long meeting with the visiting US dignitary – who is here in his capacity as co-founder of Carter Center – Prachanda said, “We said we want to build good relations with the United States. We said it would be good if he took initiative to withdraw (the terrorist tag).”

On the issue of Constituent Assembly elections, Carter inquired about the Maoists’ commitment on December polls. “We said we will be happy to see the election conducted at the earliest. We have been fighting for a decade for CA,” said Prachanda.

Prachanda said that Carter also inquired about YCL activities. “We told him that there is big exaggeration. We said that we are ready to correct if there have been some mistakes. We also wanted to draw attention on the spate of killings of YCL cadres in Madhes of late.”

“He also inquired about our commitment on plural competition,” Prachanda said. Prachanda added that he also raised the issue of Bhutanese refugees and requested Carter’s help in ensuring the environment whereby those who want to return to their home country will be allowed to do so.

Meanwhile, Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, senior Maoist leader who was also present during the meeting – which took place in Hotel Soaltee – said that Carter would be presenting a report to US president after he returns home about Nepal situation.