TOP CHINESE DELEGATION ARRIVES

Kathmandu, 11 Sept.: A top 21-member Chinese delegation led by Vice-premier and Secretary at the secretariat of the 17th central committee of the Communist Party of China, He Yong, arrived in the capital Saturday.
The delegation will met the prime minister, leaders of top parties and the president.
Three major parties invited the delegation.
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MAOISTS TO ABORT FINANCE BILL

Kathmandu, 11 Sept.: A meeting of Maoist office bearers Saturday decided to prevent tabling in parliament for approval of the 1st amendment of a finance bill to raise gold tariff.
The bill has been registered at the parliament secretariat.
Maoist Vice-chairman Narayan Kazi Shrestha said a caretaker government can’t table a bill.
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40,000 devotees visit Pashupatinath temple.

Kathmandu, 11 Sept.: Altogether 40,000 devotees visited Pashupatinath temple until 11 in the morning Saturday coinciding with teej.
Muslims also offered prayers at mosques in the capital Saturday on Eid.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“A prime minister hasn’t been elected because of UML’s neutrality and the royal family got an opportunity to play. Monarchists and Maoists are the happiest with UML’s neutrality.”

(Defence Minister Bidya Bhandari, Nagarik, 11 Sept.)

‘Nepal is being looked down in the international world; it’s international has been damaged. Should this continue, Nepal will be pictured as an irresponsible and degraded country in the United Nations.”

(Dr Bhek Bahadur Thapa, Kantipur, 11 Sept.)
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GOVT. TERMS TO RESOLVE UNMIN ROW

Kathmandu, 11 Sept.: The government on Friday floated a set of six conditions before the UCPN (Maoist) to resolve UNMIN’s mandate indicating that it is ready to accept the current mandate of the UN mission if the Maoists agree on the conditions.
According to an official engaged in drafting the conditions, the first condition is for the Maoists to agree on three documents—code of conduct for Maoist combatants, a plan of action on management of the combatants and required directives for the management.
Prepared with Maoist consent and participation, all these documents, which are expected to pave the way for beginning the long overdue management of the combatants, are ready for signing. But the Maoists have been refusing to sign, linking it with government formation.
Another condition says that the Maoists should agree on a date to start the integration and rehabilitation process for Maoist army personnel.
Similarly, the government wants the Maoists to agree to constituting a nine-member secretariat to oversee management of the Maoist combatants once the former Maoist soldiers are brought under the command and control of the special committee, and they should also designate a convener of the secretariat.
Lastly, the government wants the Maoists to agree to addressing the problems that he national army has been facing due to restrictions imposed on recruitment and movements and the ban on purchasing arms and ammunition.
In this connection, Ministers Dr Minendra Rijal and Bhim Rawal held talks Friday with Maoist leaders Narayan Kazi Shresths and Barsha Man Pun to reach an amicable understanding.
The United Nations has unofficially proposed to Nepal a month-long technical rollover for UNMIN’s mandate in the absence consensus between the government and the Maoists, a source close to the prime minister told Republica Friday.
But the government is against the proposal as it fears hat differences with the Maoists may not be bridged during one month, the source said.
“The government prefers a four-month technical rollover,” the source said.
The source further said the UN has also unofficially proposed to send a high-level delegation to Nepal to end the row over UNMIN. But the government is undecided whether to accept the proposal.
Government proposal and Maoist reaction reported by The Kathmandu Post.
Govt. proposal
Immediate reactivation of the special committee to take charge of Maoist combatants.
Formation of special committee secretariat within 15 days.
Formation of a four-month action plan on integration andd rehabilitation.
Fresh headcount of combatants.
Extension of UNMIN current mandate for four months.
End of obstruction of the mobility, recruitment and training of Nepal Army.

Maoist position
No requirement of time bound commitment to constitute special committee secretariat.
Need of the six-month extension of UNMIN term
Ready to cooperate in recruitment of technical manpower and address problems faced by the army.
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President to visit India in January
Kathmandu, 11 Sept.:
President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav is scheduled to visit India from Jan. 27 on the invitation of Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, The Kathmandu Post reports.

Dr. Yadav had visited the southern neighbour on Feb. 15, 2010 as his first foreign trip since he assumed office as head of state in July 2008.

According to the President’s Office, Dr. Yadav was invited to attend the 177th Foundation Day of the first South Asian medical college, Calcutta Medical College and Hospital, where he pursued Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Medicine (MBBS).

The president will attend the reception hosted by his Indian counterpart, Pratibha Devi Singh Patil on Feb. 2 at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi.

During his stay, Dr. Yadav will meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi, among others. “The itinerary of the president’s India trip is yet to be formalised.

He is visiting India on the invitation of the college from where he completed MBBS,” secretary at the President Office, Baman Prasad Neupane, told the Post.

The president is also scheduled to make an official visit to China in Oct-end to attend the closing ceremony of Shanghai Expo. President Yadav will also meet Chinese President Hu Jintao and Prime Minister Wen Jiabao during the closing ceremony, said officials.
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