Kathmandu: The US has "encouraged" Maoist chief Prachanda to brief the international community on the ongoing peace process even as it sought close partnership with Nepal.
"We encouraged Prachanda to sit and brief the international community (on the progress of the peace process)," said US Ambassador Scott H DeLisi, who accompanied the senior US officials during the meetings with the top political leaders. Principal US Deputy Assistant Secretary, Geoffrey R Pyatt who serves directly under Assistant Secretary for South and Central Asia Robert Blake, said, he was "enormously optimistic about the situation in Nepal".
Pyatt met Nepalese Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai, Maoist chairman Prachanda, Nepali Congress president Sushil Koirala and CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal.
DeLisi said that political parties have been able to narrow down, among other things, their wide-ranging differences on constitution drafting and peace process issues.
Nepal has faced political instability and deadlock since the 2008 election to the parliament, delaying the peace process and drafting of a new constitution.
One of the key sticking points in the peace plan has been the proposed integration of 19,000 former Maoist rebel fighters into the army, with military leaders and the main opposition Nepali Congress resisting the en massed integration.
The US officials said that they are keen to see Nepal develop a close partnership with the US in economic development, and specifically pointed out that Nepal and US can cooperate in hydropower and civil aviation sectors. "Nepal exists today in a superb geography as the Himalayan republic is situated between India and China, two fastest growing economies in the world, there`s enormous opportunity for Nepal to leverage," Pyatt pointed out.
He expressed hope that Prime Minister Bhattrai`s upcoming visit to New Delhi would offer new opportunities for Nepal.
PTI