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Former US President Carter’s Visit to Nepal
BY KTM Metro Reporter in Kathmandu
On Wednesday, November 21, 2007, Former President Jimmy Carter arrived in Kathmandu as scheduled on a four-day visit. His original plan was to visit Nepal to watch the election for a constituent assembly (CA) supposed to be held on November 22, 2007 but he did not cancel his scheduled visit even if the election was postponed indefinitely.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist and Leninist (CPN-UML) Madhav Kumar Nepal went to receive Mr. Carter at the International Airport, Kathmandu. Obviously, he went to the airport to have a meeting with Mr. Carter, as Mr. Nepal flew to Iran on the same day to participate in the International Conference of Asian Political Parties; he would not have a chance to meet with Mr. Carter if he did not go to the airport and meet him there.
Talking to the reporters after the meeting with Mr. Carter, Mr. Nepal said that they talked about the current political situation and the suspended CA elections; Mr. Carter said to him that Mr. Carter wished to see political parties forging consensus on improving the law and order situation and holding the elections for a CA at the earliest possible time; he inquired about the grievances of the CPN-Maoist, and the peace process
On November 22, 2007, Mr. Carter met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at Baluwatar and discussed the election for a CA, peace process and enforcement of all agreements signed with the CPN-Maoist in the past; Prime Minister Koirala said to Mr. Carter that he was committed to hold the election for a CA in April 2008 according to the Prime Minister’s foreign-affairs advisor Aditya Baral. Mr. Carter came out of the meeting with Mr. Koirala and said that he was convinced that the election for a CA would be held in April next year. Mr. carter also met with the Maoist Chairman Prachanda, and Chief Election Commissioner Bhoj Raj Pokhrel
Mr. Carter visited Nepal in June this year. At that time he said that Prime Minister Koirala was his hero. He also said to the Maoist leaders Prachanda and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai that he would send a message to US President George W. Bush of setting up relations with them.
