KATHMANDU, Sept 5: The chief election commissioners from the SAARC member countries who were on a visit to Nepal, paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel, during the 12th Forum of the Election Management Bodies of South Asia (FEMBoSA).

Stating that periodic elections are the cornerstone of democracy, President Paudel said that people's access and ownership of the state will be established through this.

He also said that elections should be clean, fair and without deception to establish people's access and ownership over the state.
President Paudel wished that the conference would contribute to organizing elections in South Asian countries to make them more independent, fair, and fearless.

President Paudel said that Nepal will be committed to strengthening  mutual support and cooperation with other member countries to achieve the common objectives of this organization and face challenges collectively in the upcoming days.

According to the Office of the President, Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Thapaliya informed President Paudel about the 12th meeting of FEMBoSA.

Chief election commissioners and representatives of election offices of SAARC countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and the Maldives were present on the occasion.