BY TILAK P. POKHAREL
Staffan de Mistura, (L) head of the high-level UN assessment team,
turns to speak to the media after meeting PM Girija Prasad Koirala
at his residence in Kathmandu on Monday
KATHMANDU, Aug 1 - As the government and the Maoists haven't been able to reach a common understanding on the kind of support they will seek from the UN, the government Monday requested the high-level UN mission currently in Nepal to extend its stay.
During his meeting with the UN mission, Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan requested the mission to extend its stay in Nepal so that the government and the Maoists may have more time to agree on a common understanding.
"They repeated that [three-day ultimatum given by the team yesterday to the government and the Maoists to come up with a common understanding on arms] even today, warning that they should return [empty-handed] if nothing comes up within this period," Sherchan said, after holding a meeting with the team.
He said he will talk to the prime minister and the other parties to concentrate on the UN ultimatum, setting aside all prescheduled programs for today.
Upset about dillydallying on the part of the government and the Maoists towards coming up with a common understanding on arms management, the chief of the mission, Staffan de Mistura, had warned yesterday that "an occasion" to get UN help could be missed. He had given three days' time to arrive at such an understanding.
Posted on: 2006-07-31 21:36:14 (Server Time)
