NEPAL: Norwegian peace envoy Eric Solheim meets new Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala

Record ID: 872765

  • Title: NEPAL: Norwegian peace envoy Eric Solheim meets new Nepali Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala
  • Date: 4th May 2006
  • Summary: SECURITYMEN AND OTHER PEOPLE SURROUNDING THE MINISTER'S VEHICLE
  • Embargoed: 19th May 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Nepal
  • City:
  • Country: Nepal
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAA0N156UHGAOGXFQ31PY4YU77Z
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: Norwegian Minister for International Development Cooperation Erik Solheim met Nepal's newly elected Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala in Kathmandu on Thursday (May 4), the day after Nepal's new government announced an indefinite truce to match a ceasefire declared by Maoist insurgents and said it would seek the withdrawal of Interpol arrest warrants against rebel leaders.
    The new cabinet of Prime Minister was appointed after King Gyanendra bowed to weeks of protests and returned power to political parties.
    Koirala said: "Too much bloodshed has been made here, now no more bloodshed - people should not see bloodshed again."
    Solheim said that in his talks with Koirala, the Nepali prime minister had "expressed his deep concern, for the reestablishment of democracy in Nepal and for his deep commitment to peace."
    Wednesday's decisions by Nepal's government is expected to help bring the Maoist rebels to talks aimed at ending a decade-old revolt that has killed thousands of people in the impoverished Himalayan nation, tucked between Asian giants China and India.
    "I think, it is really the day of optimism in Nepal... in Nepal, I think, the sky is bright," Soheim said.
    The Norwegian minister called upon the international community to bring assistance to Nepal.
    There was no immediate official reaction from the rebels to Wednesday's announcements.
    Last week, the Maoists declared a three-month unilateral ceasefire saying it reflected their desire for the formation of a special assembly to write a new constitution to decide the future of the monarchy.
    That desire, also echoed by activists who took part in last month's pro-democracy campaign, was then proposed to parliament by Prime Minister Koirala and approved by the chambers.
    The rebels have been fighting since 1996 to overthrow the monarchy and turn the mountainous nation into a communist republic.
    More than 13,000 people have died in the conflict that has also shattered Nepal's aid and tourism dependent economy.
    In 2001 and 2003, the Maoists pulled out of peace talks and broke ceasefires amid a row over their demand for the assembly to decide the future of monarchy.
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