UK minister hails peace progress

Kathmandu, March 31:

British Minister for International Development Mike Foster arrived here today on a three-day visit.

Foster is scheduled to launch Department for International Development’s (DFID) new Nepal Country Plan for the next three years starting from April 2009. The country plan has been designed to support Nepal’s effort to achieve peace and development, the DFID said in a statement issued here today.

“It’s good to see that progress has been made in the peace process — the CA members have wrapped up their consultation with the people on new constitution and a special committee has been taking forward the army merger process,” the statement quoted Foster as saying.

Foster, however, said there was a long way to go before the peace process is

concluded, new constitution adopted and stability restored across the country.

“I encourage all parties concerned to continue to work together to create a new constitution, and deliver peace and development to the people,” it added.

Foster is scheduled to meet ministers, senior government officials, senior political leaders, CA members and representatives of the private sector and the donor community.