Kathmandu, August 24:

German ambassador to Nepal, Franz Ring, today called on all political parties to work with the government to create an environment conducive to conduct an election to constituent assembly and also expressed his concern about the prevailing security situation.

He urged the parties to create an environment in which “campaigning and voting could be undertaken free from threats, intimidation and violence.”

He said that the German government was deeply concerned about the “ongoing violence” in Tarai.

“The “peoples’ action” to be launched very soon fall in the category of undemocratic and unacceptable measures and the parties involved in the peace process should stick to democratic values and actions,” he said.

“It would be a catastrophe for Nepal, and for development partners like Germany, if the elections could not be reasonably free and fair,” Ring said while handing over eight ambulances to the Ministry of Health and Population today. The German ambassador expressed his deep concern about the “continuing strikes, shut down of schools, factories and shops and traffic blockades. “Such actions are neither peaceful nor democratic. It is coercion,” he said.

Ring, however, expressed his optimism stating: “We remain confident that this peace process will come to its logical end, “that means first of all a successful and peaceful CA election and formation of a new constituent assembly.”

He said that Germany would start a new project aimed at supporting the peace process and will provide three million Euros for the purpose.