Kathmandu, November 25:

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today made it clear that any letter to the United Nations on giving extension to its mission in Nepal will be sent by the first week of December.

He said this during the course of a meeting between him and chief of the United Nations Mission In Nepal (UNMIN), Ian Martin, today. The latter had gone to meet Koirala to apprise Koirala of the latest developments surrounding verification.

The decision to this effect was taken during the meeting of cabinet took place last week when Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan had said that “since the decision has been made, the letter will be sent by December 15.” The government has taken the consent of the CPN-M as well.

“UNMIN chief Martin apprised the Prime Minister of the progress in the verification process and also wanted to know under what terms of reference will the extension come by,” Aditya Baral, who is Foreign Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Koirala, said.

Martin briefed PM Girija Koirala that while verification of six out of seven cantonments of the Maoist’s People’s Liberation Army has been finished, the one which remains will be over by the next 15 days “if the things remain unchanged.”

The letter, which will be posted to the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, will request extension of United Nations Mission in Napal’s term under the “unchanged terms of reference”, although the latter has been requesting an extended role.