Ian Martin meets PM Koirala, Maoist chairman

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Head of the United Nations mission to assist in Nepal’s peace process, Ian Martin, met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Prachanda separately on Monday and discussed the UN’s role in the peace process here.

Koirala-Martin meeting at Baluwatar was on focused mainly the modalities of the management of the arms and armies and the UN’s role in this process, it is learnt. The UN representative reiterated that his team would start its work immediately provided the government and the Maoists reached consensus on the arms management issue.

Similarly, he met with Maoist chairman Prachanda at an undisclosed location in the capital this afternoon. Prachanda apprised Martin about the ongoing talks with the seven-party alliance and informed about his party’s stance regarding the arms management.

Maoist No.2 Dr Baburam Bhattarai and the members of Martins team were also present at the meeting. Martin also held separate meetings with the talks teams of the government and the Maoists.

These meetings came a day after the SPA-Maoist talks ended in a deadlock over the issue of the arms management and the position of monarchy.

Martin, who is here as the personal representative of the UN secretary-general, had met with PM Koirala and Prachanda last week also. nepalnews.com mk Oct 16 06