McConnell, who arrived in Kathmandu on Wednesday on a three-day visit to Nepal, met PM Nepal at the latter´s office in Singha Durbar. He handed over a letter of British PM Gordon Brown to Nepal. Brown has wished the prime minister success for concluding the ongoing peace process. [break]
Talking to media persons after the meeting, McConnell said his visit to Nepal was made with the aim to assure the government of Brown´s support to the ongoing peace process. McConnell obtained first hand information about the progress of the peace process and efforts taken to resolve contentious issues.
According to Rajan Bhattarai, prime minister´s foreign relations advisor, PM Nepal informed McConnell that parties have reached close to agreement on the issue of integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants.
During the meeting, McConnell asked the prime minister to extend the term of the OHCHR by two years. He also inquired if the peace process would be accomplished till the UNMIN´s mandate expires on May 15, 2010.
McConnell also met UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal in the afternoon and handed him a letter sent by Prime Minister Brown. He has said in the letter that it is important for political parties to make genuine compromises to take the peace process to a logical end.
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