DETAILS OF REGMI, CARTHER TALKS Kathmandu, 30 March: Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi and former President of the United States of America, Jimmy Carter, held talks here today [Saturday], RSS reports.. In the talks that took place at Chairman Regmi's residence at Baluwatar, the two discussed matters of mutual interest and concerns. Taking in a very positive light the constitution, with the agreement of the major political parties, of the Interim Election Government under the leadership of the Chief Justice for holding fresh election to the Constituent Assembly, Mr Carter is learnt to have expressed the confidence that the election would be held on the stipulated time. The former U.S. President had wanted to know with Chairman Regmi on topics like the Constituent Assembly election, the measures to be adopted for that, the problems encountered in the collection of voters' list and how the parties opposed to the election would be brought to consensus. Likewise, Mr Carter asked with Chairman Regmi regarding the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, according to Rajendra Prasad Pandey, the latter's press coordinator. In reply, Chairman Regmi said that the government has requested all the political parties for their full cooperation for holding the election and that a talks team has also been formed for the participation of the parties opposed to the election in the election process through talks and dialogue. Chairman Regmi also said that the High Level Political Committee comprised of the top leaders of the major political parties was also making efforts towards that end. He gave assurances that the election to the Constituent Assembly would be held on the stipulated date. Stating that election was the best alternative to finding a way out to the nation from the existing political crisis, Chairman Regmi said that incumbent government was constituted for the same purpose. The government would complete its assigned task and lead the country towards new direction, he added. He was learnt to have taken positively the permission sought by the former US President Carter to play a role of observer in the upcoming CA election. He said that the Carter Center would be allowed for the same on behalf of the Nepal Government. On the occasion, the Election Government Chairman highly applauded support and cooperation extended by the Carter Center during the first CA election and urged to continue such support in the second election also. Mr Regmi said the election government was committed to adopt all possible measures to resolve the problems seen in the registration of voters' name list in some parts in the country and ensure free and fair election, according to his press advisor Pandey. Nnnn CPN MAOIST CHAIRMAN BAIDHYA REJECT TALKS INVITE Kathmandu, 30 March: Chairman of CPN-Maoist Mohan Baidhya has said the party would not participate in any talks and meetings called by the government and four major political forces in the present situation, RSS reports from Bhaktapur. Opening the second national convention of Nepal Revolutionary Landless Squatters' Association at Manohara, Bhaktapur on Saturday, he said that party would not join any government and four parties' talks in the present context. The CPN-Maoist would sit for talks with the government and four political forces only if an 11-point agreement reached between them was scrapped. He accused the four political forces of following syndicate system in the government leadership and ignoring the presence of 23 parties including the CPN-Maoist that had fought for over ten years for the sake of revolution. Another 'coup' had taken place in the history of Nepal on March 14 when the major political parties made amendments to an Interim Constitution through a wrong channel and appointed Chief Justice Khil Raj Regi Chairman of Election Government in the name of consensus, he claimed. RSS adds from Hetauda: Vice-chairman of the CPN-Maoist, CP Gajurel, has said his party would not opt for an armed conflict though it were not involved in the fresh Constituent Assembly (CA) election to be held by the Interim Election Council formed in an 'unconstitutional' manner. Speaking at a programme in Hetauda Municipality Ward No. 4 of Makawanpur district on Saturday, the CPN-Maoist would participate in the CA election if the talks were held with the fringe political parties represented in the dissolved CA. "The CPN-Maoist will organize city-centered protests by taking public support if it does not participate in the CA election," he stated. "But we will not opt for an armed conflict," added Gajurel. nnnn