Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Friday said that the upcoming talks would be focused on the management of the arms of the Maoists.

Talking to reporters at his residence in Baluwater, Koirala said, “We should anyhow resolve the arms management issue. We will discuss this issue in the next round of talks.” He said both sides should not forget the five-point request letter sent to the United Nations for monitoring of arms management, the ceasefire code of conduct and the election to constituent assembly.

On a question about the upcoming ‘summit meeting’, the PM said, “The problems cannot be solved from the top level all of a sudden. Both sides need to concentrate on the resolving the problems.”

Asked about the Maoist reaction that they were not ready to confine their army in cantonments, Koriala said he “does not care about who said what”. “I will only do what has been discussed with the Maoists,” he said.

A recent meeting of the Council of Ministers directed the government’s talks team headed by Home Minister KP Sitaula to make preparations for a summit meeting that will involve PM Koirala, Maoist supremo Prachanda and
top leaders of the ruling SPA.

The Maoists have already formed a 10-member high-level team headed by Prachanda himself to expedite the talks.

Declaring that they would not surrender their arms before the restructuring of the state through the constituent assembly, the rebel side has warned of ‘urban revolt’ if the talks collapse.