Speaking to editors of daily newspapers at his official residence at Baluwatar this morning, Prime Minister Bhattarai said, “Though there is a creeping sense of frustration in the public arena about lack of progress in the peace process, we are actually making good progress in informal negotiations”. [break]
“And I am hopeful that there will be an agreement soon. Ideally, I want an agreement before Dashain but it may take some time,” he added.
Asked if the ongoing stiff resistance from the Mohan Baidya-faction of the Maoist party could obstruct the peace process, Prime Minister Bhattarai said, “Since the beginning they were against concluding the peace process and writing the constitution, but as I and the chairman [Pushpa Kamal Dahal] are committed to peace and constitution, their opposition will not make much difference”.
Prime Minister Bhattarai, however, put the blame on the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML for lack of progress in the peace process after he became prime minister. “The NC and UML have not been forthcoming during the last one month for taking the peace process forward.”
The prime minister was of the opinion that once the peace process is completed, the term of the Constituent Assembly should be extended by about six months after its expiry at the end of November. “During that period we can promulgate the constitution and the country can go for general elections.”
PM to visit India in October
Prime Minister Bhattarai said he is to visit India in the third week of October. His India visit has been tentatively scheduled for October 21. The prime minister said there is enormous goodwill on the part of the international community, especially India, China and the United States, toward his government.
“I met the Indian prime minister and he expressed confidence that the peace process would be concluded and the constitution written during my tenure as prime minister,” said Bhattarai.
The prime minister also said that during his India visit he wants to raise prominently the issue of power export from India to Nepal. “I am thinking of raising this as a major issue during my visit so that the chronic power cuts in Nepal can be reduced to a few hours a day,” he said.
Chinese premier may visit Nepal
Prime Minister Bhattarai said he might visit China after returning from India. “But we are also trying to arrange a high-level visit from China, hopefully at the level of prime minister, before my visit.” The prime minister said a visit by the Chinese premier to Nepal would send a positive signal.
Good Governance PM´s priority
Prime Minister Bhattarai said good governance and relief for the people are his immediate priorities. “I will continue to work in this direction so that people can feel the immediate difference.”
He was, however, quick to add that he would also work for the long-term economic transformation of the country. “Without economic transformation we cannot sustain democracy and I have been clear about this since the beginning,” he said.
The prime minister informed that he will have a team of experts at Baluwatar to work on a long-term economic vision for the country and it will also coordinate economic issues so that the prime minister´s office can drive the agenda of economic change. “It´s for this reason that I have appointed Rameshowr Khanal [former finance secretary], who has both credibility and integrity, as my economic advisor,” the prime minister said.
Prime Minister live on radio every month
Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai will hold monthly interactions with ordinary Nepalis through Radio Nepal every month, starting Sunday.
“The prime minister will interact live with the common people for an hour, starting at 8 p.m. tomorrow and he will do so every month,” informed Prime Minister´s Press Advisor Ramrijhan Yadav.
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