The parties also decided not to increase the integration quota.[break]
"As the decision regarding the issues of voluntary retirement, integration and rehabilitation of the Maoist ex-combatants has already been taken, we agreed to move ahead with the process immediately," CPN-UML leader Bhim Rawal after the meeting. He said that the leaders agreed to sort out any problem that might crop up during the implementation through further talks.
In the meeting, Maoist leaders insisted that the issue of rank determination should be settled before the process of retirement and integration is settled. But the NC and CPN-UML leaders present in the meeting rejected their demands, saying that the issue was already dealt with in the November 1 peace agreement.
A senior leader of CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal said that political parties can later present other options of volunteer retirement and rehabilitation to the ex-combatants who have not been chosen for integration.
At the meeting, the leaders also agreed to sort out the citizenship issue raised by Madhesi parties. "We agreed to hold talks with legal experts to sort out the problem regarding citizenship," Rawal told Republica.
In the meantime, the Special Committee is meeting Tuesday to finalize the issue of voluntary retirement and integration.
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