Sitaula, Mahara discuss summit

Kathmandu, September 7 :

Chief government negotiator and Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Maoist talks team leader Krishna Bahadur Mahara, during a meeting held here today, discussed on the topics for the upcoming summit-level talks.

“We discussed the possibility of holding the summit but did not set any schedule,” Sitaula confirmed.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala had, during the cabinet meeting held yesterday, directed the government talks team to proceed with the talks.

Dev Gurung, a Maoist talks team member, said Sitaula had briefed Mahara about the cabinet decision and both had discussed the contents of the summit. Gurung said his party was always ready to hold the summit meet, but it was the government, which was delaying it. The Maoists have been insisting that the meet reach a consensus on an interim statute, an interim legislature, an interim government and arms management.