Kathmandu, April 8:

Former US President Jimmy Carter, who is in Nepal to observe the upcoming constituent assembly election, has hoped that all the political parties in Nepal would accept the result of the election, which he believes will have a large turnout.

“I pray and believe that the political parties will accept the election results,” Carter told reporters after his meeting with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at latter’s residence in Baluwatar this morning.

A few days ago, CPN-Maoist had warned that the party would not accept the election results if it was defeated by “conspiracies”.

Carter said he was happy that the government and the Election Commission have established the election procedure and expressed confidence that Nepali people will go to the polls in a large number.

Replying to a query, he said the Carter Centre was invited by all the major political parties in Nepal to observe the crucial vote.

The Carter Centre has already sent its observers to more than 40 districts of the country. This is the Centre’s 68th election observation mission. During the meeting, PM Koirala told Carter that all preparations for the election have been completed. “The Prime Minister also expressed happiness over the presence of international observers for the election,” said Foreign Secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya, who was also present during the meeting.

Earlier this morning, Carter also met Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokharel and inquired about the preparations for the election. Talking to reporters after the meeting, former US President lauded “superb performance of the Election Commission under most difficult circumstances”.

He added, “If the election is successful then the credit should go to the Election Commission.”

“By the way, don’t forget to vote,” he told reporters before leaving the EC premises.

Chief Election Commissioner Pokharel later told reporters that Carter had asked if the parties were in a position to accept the outcome of the election or not.

Martin meets Prachanda

Kathmandu: Chief of the UN Mission in Nepal Ian Martin on Tuesday urged political leaders to stand by their commitments made in the run-up to the election and to prevent violence during the polls.

Addressing a press conference here today, Martin said Maoist chairman Prachanda has expressed his commitment that the People’s Liberation Army personnel in the cantonments would not perform any activity in violation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement signed between the Maoists and the seven-party government in November 2006.

He said he has asked chairman Prachanda to accept the result of the election and to ensure that the Maoist combatants remain in cantonments on April 10. After meeting Prachanda, Martin visited PLA’s Shaktikhor cantonment in Chitwan. — HNS