During a meeting with the visiting EU parliamentary delegation at Baluwatar, Prime Minister Koirala expressed commitment to bringing the new statute through the current CA sometime soon. "Just today I asked the EU people why they had asked that question and they told me they had not asked such a question at all. What they said was misinterpreted," the prime minister said at a function organized at Shanti Batika Friday afternoon to mark the birth centennial of the late Ganesh Man Singh.
In their meetings with various political leaders, including the CA chairman, the European parliamentary delegation had put forth a question about the possibility of holding a third CA election if this CA also failed to produce a new statute, thereby raising suspicions over the intentions of the EU delegation in Nepal.
According to the Prime Minister's Foreign Relations Advisor Dinesh Bhattarai, the prime minister, at his meeting with them at Baluwatar Friday, had inquired about their query on holding a third CA election. Ruling out any such possibility, he said that in case the broadest possible consensus was not possible a new constitution would be produced soon through a democratic process.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference on Friday evening before wrapping up their three-day visit to Nepal, Chairperson of the EU delegation Jean Lambert of the UK said they were just inquiring whether Nepal's political leadership had a plan B if the current CA also failed to produce a constitution due to differences over state restructuring.
"We are told that the parties are close to agreement on all disputed issues except for federalism. This has been moving for some time now. If the things do not happen this was a question to know, what is your plan B?" she said.
Lambert also said that the EU wishes to see early promulgation of a new statute in Nepal and that they would be joining in the celebrations over the promulgation of an inclusive and democratic constitution.
The European parliamentary delegation has urged political leaders in Nepal to work constructively for the adoption of a democratic and inclusive constitution. "It is our clear view that it is important for this Constituent Assembly to complete its task and adopt a constitution that meets the aspirations of the Nepali people. This will lead to a successful conclusion of the peace process and pave the way for economic and social development," Lambert said at the press conference.
The delegation also welcomed the resumption of talks and the assurances by the main political actors that they were ready to work actively to put an end to the current stalemate and to further Nepal's national interests, progress and prosperity. "We found that the support of the EU has been welcomed by people in Nepal," she further said. The EU has tripled the development assistance to Nepal in various priority areas such as sustainable rural development, agriculture and rural infrastructure.
The parliamentary delegation had urged the prime minister to implement the provision on providing citizenship through mothers and also discussed about holding local level elections. Election Commission officials had informed them that the EC stands ready to hold the local polls if the political parties agreed to it, according to Lambert.
The delegation, which arrived in Kathmandu on April 8 on a three-day visit to follow the political developments in Nepal, also held a meeting with President Dr Ram Baran Yadav, CA Chairman Subash Nembang, Foreign Minister Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Election Commission officials, top leaders of various major political parties and civil society leaders. The three other members of the group include Cristian Dan Preda (Romania), Afzal Khan (UK) and Thomas Mann (Germany).
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