Kathmandu, May 5:

Political and economic chief of the US Embassy Williams S Martin has said that the US was doing groundwork to remove the CPN-Maoist from its terror list and Nepal from the negative travel advisory.

During a meeting today with Nepal Chamber of Commerce chairman Surendra Bir Malakar and its Honorary Representative to the US Pralhad KC, Martin said the US accepted the CPN-Maoist as the single largest party in Nepal and that the US was curiously watching the issue of the formation of a new government, the NCC said.

Saying that the US would appreciate Nepali people’s mandate, Martin said the Maoists would also change their behaviour in the days ahead. On UNMIN’s future, Martin said Nepal was to decide whether or not to extend the tenure of UNMIN but the US thought that the UN body could play additional positive role in Nepal. On the occasion, Malakar lauded US’ role in Nepal’s development and expressed hopes for continued US support for the new government in Nepal. Likewise, KC said Nepalis living in America have been taking initiative to remove Nepal from the negative US travel advisory and promoting bilateral trade and tourism.