KHANAL TO SPEED UP PEACE PROCESS AND CONSTITUTION DRAFTING

Kathmandu, 4 Feb. Prime Minister-elect Jhalanath Khanal said Friday he’ll speed up the peace process and constitution drafting-his priorities in government.
He was congratulated at the party office in the capital following his election Thursday evening.
Khanal said he’ll move forward with the support of NC and Madeshbadi parties.
Khanal, who is also chairman of UML, said the cabinet ‘won’t adopt a Maoist agenda:
The UML chief who is expected to be sworn-in Sunday said he will prepare a common programme and policy with Maoists for implementation.
But NC President Sushil Koirala aid his party will remain in the opposition and support lthe government on issues to complete the peace process and constitution drafting.
MGFN Chairman Upendra Yadav said Friday his party can support the incoming government if it takes up Madesh issues.
The party along with Nepal Majdoor KIshan Party boycotted the parliamentary vote Thursday despite a ruling by the speaker parties can’t boycott the election.
NC for the last seven months pushed a NC-led government—a move thwarted at the last moment by the last-minute Maoist support for Khanal in parliament.
Khanal said Friday the foreign and home portfolios in government
will go to Maoists who will have the most seats in the cabinet.
He added the cabinet will be formed in phases.
‘The form of government will be small. I’ll request my party and others to send capable and efficient persons to government,” Khanal said.
‘I’m not for any polarization. Left polarization won’t be good for the country,” Khanal said ascommunists will dominate the government.
He said in the same breath ‘democratic polarization’ also won’t do good.
‘I’ll effort unity between democratic forces,” he added.
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FOREIGN LEADERS WELCOME KHANAL ELECTION

Kathmandu, 4 Feb: Indian Prime Minster Manmohan Singh telephoned Prime Minister-elect Jhalanath Khanal Thursday night and congratulated him of his election.
Singh is the first leader to congratulate KHanal.
The U.S. Embassy Thursday congratulated people of Nepal on the election of the Prime Minister.
“We look forward to working with incoming Prime Minister Khanal and continuing the warm and constructive relationship between the United States and Nepal.
“We are hopeful that today’s election will give renewed momentum to the peace process and constitution drafting,” an embassy statement said in an immediate reaction.

British Ambassador, John Tucknott, in his capacity as Local President of the European Union, made the following statement on behalf of Kathmandu-based EU missions (Denmark, EU Delegation, Finland, France, Germany, The Netherlands, United Kingdom). Norway and Switzerland also associate themselves with this statement:

"I would like to offer my congratulations to Jhalanath Khanal on his election as Prime Minister. We look forward to working with Mr Khanal and his government, and trust that the Prime Minister will seek to build a broad coalition. We encourage the new government together with the other parties to take immediate steps to advance the peace process, draft the Constitution and create the necessary conditions for increasing security, stability and prosperity for all Nepalis,." a British embassy news release said.
Japan, a major donor, also welcomed Khanal’s election.
UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday welcomed Khanal’s election in a statement issued in New York.
Ban hoped the peace process and constitution drafting will be completed in the deadline 28 May.
Even as UNMIN withdrew 15 January after a failed four-year mission, Ban said UN support for Nepal will continue.
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NEPAL ENTERS SEMI-FINAL OF ACC U-19 ELITE CUP

Kathmandu, 4 Feb.: Nepal entered the semi-final of the ACC U-19 Elite Cup in Bangkok Friday defeating arch-rival Afghanistan by six wickets in a Group B match.
Nepal bowled out Afghanistan in 26.4 overs after setting the war-torn state a run 126 run chase.
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