EU not in favor of poll deferral

KATHMANDU, Aug 20: At a time when major parties have reached an informal understanding to defer the Constituent Assembly (CA) polls if the Mohan Baidya-led alliance of agitating parties decides to participate in the election process, donor community has said it does not want to see any deferral of the polls scheduled for November 19.



Addressing the inaugural session of a workshop titled “Bilateral Relations and Economic Cooperation” jointly organized by the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal and the Association of Former Career Ambassador of Nepal (AFCAN) in the capital on Tuesday, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Nepal Alexander Spachis said they do not want to see the CA polls deferred in the name of appeasing dissenting parties. “We want to see dissenting parties take part in the election process, but we are not in favor of any postponement of the election,” he said.  [break]



Spachis said EU, which is one of Nepal´s major donors, supports Nepal´s transition toward consolidation of its democracy. “We have extended a wholehearted support to the election, and eagerly hope that the election announced for November 19 will be held as per the timeline,” he further said. “We encourage all actors to work responsibly towards the election.”



Ambassador Spachis also underscored the need to hold local level election in Nepal to further consolidate democracy at grass roots level. “We also consider it important that the next year local elections will be held to restore democratic governance at the local level, which is an essential democratic institution,” he added.

Addressing the function, Minister for Foreign Affairs Madhav Prasad Ghimire said the government is committed to holding the elections on November 19.



While lauding the support extended by the EU to Nepal, he said Nepal expects EU´s support to hydropower development, road connectivity and tourism, among others.

While stating that Nepal is currently working toward graduating from the LDC status by 2022, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission, Rabindra Kumar Shakya said that the commission plans to take various measures to reduce poverty from the current 23 per cent to 18 per cent by the end of the current 13th plan.



Addressing the function, AFCAN President Kedar Bhakta Shrestha said Nepal should take maximum benefit from EU as it has provided duty free access to Nepali products. While Nepal exports handmade carpets, textiles, gems and jewelry, paper and leather products to EU countries, the countries associated with EU have invested over Rs 700 billion in Nepal.

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