The negotiation teams formed by the government and the CPN (Maoist) are due to begin talks– for the first time since the latest ceasefire — at the outskirts of Kathmandu on Friday.

Reports said the formal dialogue would begin at 4.00 p.m. on Friday.

The government had formed the three-member talk committee headed by Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula, comprising members Pradip Gyawali, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Ramesh Lekhak, Minister of State for Transport and Labour Management.

Reports quoted members of the talk team as saying that they will discuss the issue of historic proclamation of parliament, people’s aspiration expressed during the people’s movement and code of conduct to be implemented during the period of ceasefire during the first round of talks.

Krishna Bahadur Mahara
The Maoist talk team comprising Maoist spokesman Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Dina Nath Sharma and Dev Gurung is in the capital to hold dialogue with the government.

Two rounds of talks held between the government and Maoists failed in the past.

The Maoists announced that party chairman Prachanda will lead the summit talks.

The government has decided to release all political detainees to create conducive environment for talks.

Meanwhile, the Maoists talk team met Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at Baluwatar this morning.

Both sides discussed the dialogue process and code of conduct. All three members of the Maoists talk team were present on the occasion.

Chief of the government preparatory talks team, Home Minister Krishna Sitaula, and NC vice-chairman, Sushil Koirala also attended the meet.