Kathmandu, November 14:

Danish ambassador Finn Thilsted said today that federalism, a costly system, may not be economically viable for a multi-ethnic country like Nepal. He stressed the need of decentralisation. The envoy was talking to mediapersons at a programme.

Thilsted said that the success of Nepal’s peace process was closely linked with the contentious

issues of separation of power between the President and the Prime Minister, restructuring of the state along federal lines, justice to conflict victims and integration of Maoist combatants.

The ambassador said PLA combatants could not live in the camps for ever. “Some of them

should be adjusted with the Nepal Army, while others should form part of security forces,” said the envoy. He expressed hope that most of the PLA soldiers would prefer to join the society as civilians. Thilsted also highlighted the need to dispense justice to conflict-hit people.

The envoy informed that Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs would visit Nepal on November 26-29.