“The combatants should be integrated into the Nepal Army only if they fulfill the set standards,” Paudel said while speaking at the Reporters´ Club in Kathmandu. Ruling out the possibility of bulk integration of the Maoist combatants, he said the combatants would be integrated only on an individual basis. [break]
Paudel, however, said that the government could be flexible on age, education and training of the combatants. He also urged the Maoists not to come up with new demands on integration as the parties have reached near consensus on the number of combatants to be integrated.
“I don´t wish to disclose the number at the moment but the parties have reached an agreement on the issue,” Paudel claimed.
Urging the Maoists not to use integration as a bargaining chip, Paudel said the integration of Maoist combatants should not affect professionalism of the national army.
In a separate context, Minister Paudel said that Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal would step down only after the political parties reach consensus on a common candidate for the post of new prime minister.
He also urged political parties to reach an agreement on national consensus government at the earliest.
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