Kathmandu: Former US President Jimmy Carter on Thursday underlined the need for progress in Nepal`s stalled peace process and the drafting of a new constitution.
The former US president, whose Carter Centre has been linked to the monitoring of the peace process in the country, today telephoned new Prime Minister Jhala Nath Khanal and discussed the issue of the drafting of the new constitution in the country.
He discussed the progress made in the 2006 peace process.
The Prime Minister said the process of drafting the constitution is moving forward by sorting out differences on key issues among the political parties.
Khanal told Carter that the government is committed to concluding the peace process and drafting of the constitution within the stipulated timeframe, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
He said the issue would be discussed in the key Army Integration Special Committee.
The political parties have set May-end deadline to draft the constitution.
Carter also telephoned Maoist chief Prachanda and Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala to take stock of the situation.
Meanwhile, visiting UK minister of State for International Development Alan Duncan met Prachanda to discuss the peace process.
Duncan underlined the need for reconciliation among the political parties to end the political deadlock over the peace process.
For seven months, Nepal was run by a caretaker prime minister till Khanal was elected after 17 attempts on February 3. The political deadlock has delayed the framing of the constitution and stalled the peace process.
PTI
