Kathmandu, May 18:

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today assured a delegation from the European Union that the constituent assembly election would be rescheduled within a week.

A delegation from the European Union in Kathmandu led by German ambassador to Nepal, Franz Erwin Ring, had been to Baluwatar this morning seeking information on the existing “uncertainty” on election dates and the “deteriorating” security situation.

The ambassadors of EU members states asked the Prime Minister what the government was doing, and when it would announce the fresh dates for constituent assembly election.

Referring to Maoist Chairman Prachanda’s request to give him 15 days to think on an election date, Koirala told them: “Now that the 15 days asked by Prachanda is over, the eight parties would decide the month to hold the elections within a week.”

He told the EU delegation that the government would follow the eight party decisions to fix the dates for the elections.

On concerns raised by the ambassadors on the weakening law and order situation in villages and its implications to hold free and fair elections, the PM said that he had responsibility to hold “internationally recognised” elections.

“Soon, the law and order situation would be improved in order to create a favourable environment for free and fair polls,” Dr Suresh Chalise quoted the Prime Minister as saying.

“We raised our concerns about the deteriorating internal political situation and encouraged the PM to address this problem,” said German ambassador Ring, who holds the EU presidency in Nepal.

The EU delegation was also concerned about the “stalled” process of arms management as a result of the delay in the second stage of verification of combatants.

Upon their advice to the Prime Minister to address the problems, Koirala said that the responsibility of arms management has been given to the United Nations and he believed in the United Nations’ “leadership and capability.”

The second stage of “verification” of arms management needed to be started and there should not be any condition for that, Ring said.