Govt-Maoist talks:

Both sides agree on 25-point Code of Conduct

HANDS ACROSS THE TABLE: The government (right) and Maoist (left)

negotiating teams pose for a photograph during the first round of

preliminary talks at Gokarna Resort, Kathmandu, on Friday.
(Photo: Narendra Shrestha )

KATHMANDU, May 26 - At the end of the first day the government-Maoist peace talks, both sides have agreed on a 25-point Code of Conduct to go for the constituent assembly elections.
The talks ended at 10:15 p.m. after more than six hours of closed-door negotiations between the two parties at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort in Kathmandu on Friday.
Home Minister Krishna Prasad Sitaula and Krishna Bahadur Mahara, heads of the government and the Maoist negotiating teams respectively signed the Code of Conduct.
The 12-point understanding reached between the seven-party alliance (SPA) was also discussed during the negotiations today.
Both sides also agreed to hold another round of talks after reaching the agreement today.
However, no date has been set for the next round of talks.
During today's negotiations, both sides agreed to invite national and international teams to monitor the ceasefire. They also agreed not make any public statement or to undertake any activity that would provoke each other.
In the Code of Conduct, both sides have agreed, among others, to stop new recruitments in their armies and create for the environment to run regular educational institutions, hospitals and industries.
The government and the Maoists also agreed on ending the forceful collection of donations and financial assistance.
"We don't want to return to war again," said Mahara after the meeting.
He added, "This (talks) is the first step towards achieving our goal of a constituent assembly election."
Home Minister Sitaula said that the dialogue was held in a constructive environment.
"Now no Nepali will have to spill blood to for the reasons of an armed conflict," said Sitaula.
The government on Thursday had given full shape to its team headed by Home Minister Sitaula and formally called the Maoists for negotiations while the Maoist preparatory talks team headed by the party spokesperson Krishna Bahadur Mahara had arrived in Kathmandu last week; another member Dev Gurung arrived on Thursday.
Maoist Chairman Prachanda has already said that he would lead the rebel negotiating team after the preparatory negotiations are held with the current teams.
Posted on: 2006-05-26 10:34:18 (Server Time)