Kathmandu, January 22:

Japan is keen to help Nepal’s peace process particularly in holding the elections to constituent assembly, Chihiro Atsumi, the Director General of the Southeast and Southwest Asian Affairs at the Department of the Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said.“I have come here to show Japan’s strong support to peace process and to help Nepal be a democratic nation,” said Atsumi after he arrived at the Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) this afternoon.

He said he would discus with the top government officials on how Japan can help Nepal in the constituent assembly elections. Atsumi is here to assess Japan’s possible assistance to peace process and constituent assembly election.

Asked about Japan’s interest in sending UN arms monitors to Nepal, he said that it would depend upon the structure of the UN mission here.

He is leading an eight-member JICA project formation team in his three-day visit and is scheduled to meet the Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, KP Oli.

Atsumi is also scheduled to meet other senior government officials, political leaders and the United Nations officials.

Atsumi however, is not scheduled to meet any Maoist leader.