UK’s Duncan expresses hopes for fair CA elections in Nepal

KATHMANDU: Chairman of the Interim Election Council, Khil Raj Regmi, and UK Minister of State for International Development, Alan Duncan held a meeting at the former’s office today.

On the occasion, they had an exchange of views on various topics of mutual interests and concerns as well as on expansion of bilateral relations.

Talking briefly to RSS after the meeting, UK Minister of State Duncan said that the vacating of the cantonments with the integration of the Maoist former combatants in the Nepal Army was a positive development for the peace process.

He said Chairman Regmi urged him not to have any doubts when he asked him about the guarantee of the Constituent Assembly election in coming November.

Duncan further said that besides expressing his best wishes for a free, fair and credible election within November, he also conveyed his country’s desire to consistently extend cooperation for Nepal’s development and the peace process.

It is stated that the United Kingdom has proposed to increase its annual assistance of 60 million Pound Sterling to Nepal to 100 million.

Duncan, who arrived here on Sunday on a four-day visit met separately with Nepali Congress President Sushil Koirala and Chairman of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (Loktantrik), Bijaya Kumar Gachhadar today and discussed the current political developments and the election to the forthcoming Constituent Assembly.

He is scheduled to meet CPN-UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and Chairman of the CPN-Maoist Mohan Baidya later in the afternoon today.