US envoy meets PM Koirala

September 21, 2006
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American ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter’s residence in Baluwatar Thursday morning and discussed Nepal’s ongoing peace process.

During the meeting, Moriarty briefed Koirala about his recent visit to some western districts.

A source at PM Koirala’s residence quoted Moriarty as saying that there was gross violation of ceasefire code of conduct on part of the Maoists in the districts he visited.

The two also discussed the issue of arms management and the peace talks with the Maoists. The US envoy is learnt to have told the PM that people in villages were yet to feel the environment of peace.

Moriarty’s visit to western districts last week and his statements drew strong criticism from various sides including the SPA allies. The US diplomat, however, claimed that his visit was meant for assessing the impact of peace initiatives in the districts and villages. Some members of the parliament had even demanded his expulsion saying that he breached diplomatic decorum. Moriarty had also visited army barracks in the western region during his tour.

The US has been stressing that the Maoists should not be included in the government unless they lay down their arms.