On Sunday, Carter held separate meetings with UCPN (Maoist) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, NC President Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal, coordinator of United Democratic Madhesi Front (UDMF) Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar, Tarai-Madhes Democratic Party Chairman Mahantha Thakur and Nepal Sadbhawana Party (Anandidevi) Chair Sarita Giri and discussed various issues including the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election. [break]
In his meeting with Carter, Maoist Chairman Dahal, who was also joined by Vice Chairman Baburam Bhattarai, said Nepal´s political transition will end after the elections are held. He also said that his party had made sincere efforts to end the political deadlock in the country.
On the occasion, Carter expressed his readiness to extend all kinds of support for the fresh election. While appreciating Maoist role in concluding the peace process, he said that Maoists still had a greater role to play to accomplish the tasks of holding new election and drafting a new statute.
In his separate meeting with NC President Koirala, Carter had inquired about the prospect of the upcoming election, peace process, new statute drafting process and concurrent political issues. "We put across our position on various issues. The meeting dwelt on issues related to the peace process, constitution and fresh election," said Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, who was present in the meeting.
Dr Mahat said they put forth their concerns that the hurriedly given remarks by former President Carter during the last CA election that the election was free and fair did not reflect the ground reality. While thanking all the support Carter Center had extended to Nepal for holding the polls, NC leaders asked it to comment on the new election only after making careful observation and a final report is prepared.
Former President Carter had expressed willingness of the Carter Center to send election monitoring teams. "He told us that Carter Center would send observation teams during the election. We said, we welcome that," UML Chairman Khanal told media persons after his meeting.
Carter is scheduled to hold a press conference on April 1 before his departure to Myanmar. He is leading a delegation to Myanmar, where the Center Center is exploring ways to support the country´s ongoing democratic transition. The delegation will meet with government and political leaders and civil society representatives during its stay in Myanmar till April 6.
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