UPDATE MAOIST CHIEF, INDIAN PM SINGH MEET Kathmandu, 1 May: Chairman of the UCPN (Maoist), Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' who is on a visit to India held talks with Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh, today [Yiesday], RSS reports.. During the meeting held at the Indian Prime Minister's residence at 7 Race Course Road, Dahal urged the Government of India to support political stability and economic development of Nepal. The political parties of Nepal have moved ahead in the process of taking forward the political process started after the 12-point agreement reached between the then CPN-Maoist and seven political parties, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission has been formed and the peace process has almost reached close to a logical conclusion, Chairman Dahal said and requested Prime Minister Singh to support it as the stability process of Nepal would move ahead through the election of the Constituent Assembly (CA). Emphasizing on the need of cooperation from neighbouring countries for the political stability of Nepal, the UCPN-Maoist Chairman urged the Government of India to support in the CA election and the agenda of economic development, said Dahal's aide Shiva Khakurel. On the occasion, Dahal put forth the three-country partnership proposal to Indian Prime Minister Singh. Taking the proposal put forth by Dahal in a positive way, Prime Minister Singh said that it would be better to forward the proposal after making the bilateral partnership broad and extensive. The Indian Prime Minister assured of forwarding the proposal in the near future. He said that the Government of India would provide all possible assistance for the stability and development of Nepal. RSS nnnn WB ASSISTANCE Kathmandu, 1 May: The World Bank (WB) has agreed to provide assistance of Rs. 6.69 billion to the Government of Nepal for the implementation of two different projects—Climate Change and Food Security, RSS reports.. The WB is to provide Rs. 2.67 billion to mitigate climate related hazards by improving accuracy and timeliness of weather and flood forecasts and warnings for climate vulnerable communities, as well as developing agricultural management information system services to help farmers mitigate climate-related production risks. Similarly, Rs. 4.018 billion is for the implementation of the Nepal Agriculture and Food Security Programme (NAFSP). Out of the assistance provided under the climate change mitigation head, Rs. 1.29 billion is loan assistance and the remaining is grant. The implementation period of the project will be for five years. At a programme organised at the Ministry of Finance today, Secretary at the Ministry, Shanta Raj Subedi, and WB's Country Manager for Nepal, Tahseen Sayed, signed the agreement. The NAFSP will be implemented to increase productivity of agriculture and livestock in 19 mountainous districts of the far-west and mid-west regions as well as to improving feeding and caring practices for pregnant and nursing women and children under the age of two. On the occasion, Sayed said that the WB has been supporting in the socio-economic development of Nepal as far as possible and expressed the commitment to give continuity to it. He expressed the belief that the targeted achievements would be gained from the support provided for the next five years. Secretary Subedi said that Nepal is one of the country, out of nine countries, which is getting financial support for the project related to climate change, and stressed that the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology should carry out works being sensitive to reduce risks of climate change. Nnnn 11 PARTIES REGISTER FOR ELECTIONS FIRST DAY TUESDAY Kathmandu, 1 May” The process of registering the political party has started from Tuesday for second Constituent Assembly (CA) election purposes at the Election Commission (EC), The Rising Nepal reports.. On the first day, the major parties leaders reached at EC to register their parties for second CA election. Altogether 11 political parties registered today, informed Election Commissioner Ayodhi Yadav. The EC noticed to the political parties to register at EC within one month who needs to participate in CA election. Leaders and workers of some political parties reached at EC early morning at 5.30 AM. The political parties cadres caught difference on which parties would registered first. This quarreling delayed some time to register process. Mainly CPN-UML and UCPN-Maoist claimed to be first register. Maoist leaders with their supporters reached at EC main entrance at 5.30 am while UML leaders reached at EC after 40 minute. However, UML get chance to be first registered party at the party leaders stranded up the room that was allocate for the party registration. Maoist spokesperson Agni Sapkota and UML vice-chairman Bam Dev Goutam were stranded up with their supporters at right and left of the room no 102 at ground floor to become first. After their differences the EC issued notice immediate to resolve dispute. In the notice the EC said the election symbol order of political parties will be determine as per its future decision. After the notice issued registration process started at 11.30 AM. EC acting secretary Madhu Prasad Regmi said election symbol order depends on the EC’s decision not as per first cum first order. He urged to the political parties to make friendly atmosphere receiving token. He called name of UML, Maoist, Rastriya Prajatantra Party-Nepal and Nepali Congress respectively to receive token. For the party register purpose UCPN-Maoist vice chairman Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, general secretary Post Bahadur Bogati, NC general secretary Krishna Sitoula, UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal and vice chairman Goutam among others were present. From Maoist Bhattarai and Mukti Pradhan, from NC Chinkaji Shrestha and from UML Goutan and Agni Kharel registered their application. Today Maosit, NC, UML, RPP-Nepal along CPN-M, Terai Madesh Loktantrik Party and Nepal Nagarik Party representatives registered their application at EC. Speaking with reporters Dr. Bhattarai said his party formally registered at EC aiming to participate second CA election. “It shown the parties are eager to go in election, it makes environment positive. All should go towards election, no one should have disturb it” he said. Goutam said registration of political parties gives message that the elction will held with peaceful manner. Urging to rethink on their decision who opposing election he said election would be held. NC chief secretary Shrestha said election environment build with registering the parties. nnnn