The prime minister reiterated that his government is committed to take the peace process and constitution-drafting to a logical end. [break]
“This government was formed with a mission (to complete peace process and constitution-drafting). The government is determined to accomplish both the tasks,” he said.
Upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport from Turkey, the prime minister told media persons that he is also in favor of national consensus government. “The process of forming a national consensus government is still on. The most important tasks facing the country right now is to conclude peace process and promulgate a new constitution forging national consensus among all parties,” he said.
The prime minister said he is open for discussions if the issue was about particular ´individual´ leading a national consensus government. He, however, trashed the demands from various quarters that he step down right away. “All have right to make speech. The leaders, I believe, have been exercising that right. This is the beauty of democracy,” he said.
The prime minister said that the government would take concrete steps toward peace process within next 15 days and also devote time for constitution-drafting. Prime Minister Khanal arrived home on Thursday, cutting short his Turkey visit by three days amid rapid political development back home.
Prime Minister Khanal clarified that his visit was not intended at avoiding the trouble brewing within his party, but to fulfill his international obligation. “Every party has its own problems and they are settled through due process within the party,” he said when asked about the growing dissatisfaction within the party over his decision to give Home Ministry to the Maoists.
On the occasion, Prime Minister Khanal also briefed the media about achievements made through the participation in the fourth UN Conference on Least Developed Countries in Istanbul, Turkey.
Khanal said he highlighted the special needs and vulnerabilities of the LDCs and called for fundamental transformation in the global political and economic order to properly address the lingering problems of poverty and lack of development.
He also attended the opening of parliamentary forum, civil society forum and the high-level meeting on investment and partnership organized by the private sector track. He took part in a separate program organized jointly by Nepal and UNDP on ´Building Resilience to Sustainable Development: International Cooperation and National Strategies´.
On the sideline of the LDCs conference, the prime minister held meetings with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and President of UN General Assembly Joseph Deiss on May 8. He also met the President of Turkey on May 10.
The prime minister also held meetings with President of Finland Tarja Hanolen, Prime Minister of Belgium Yves Leterme, President of European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso, State Secretary of Germany Hans Jurgen Beerfeltz and World Trade Organization Director Pascal Lamy, among others.
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