COUNTRY HEADING TOWARDS POLLS SAYS MAOIST CHIEF Kathmandu, 11 June:: UCPN-Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the country is heading towards election, RSS reports from Mangalebare, Ilam. . Chairman Dahal further said that the government's decision on the contentious issues of high-level political mechanism, threshold, election act and election date will be agreeable for them when parties could not strike a deal to that end. Talking to journalists at a press conference organised by Revolutionary Journalists' Association, Ilam this morning, he claimed that the election will take place by coming November. 'We have entrusted the government to settle the issues which remained disputed among the political parties. However, we all parties have reached a consensus to accept the government decision to that effect', he said, adding that, 'It has enabled environment for election'. Responding a query, he said the government decision even on the threshold will be acceptable for their party and made it clear that the high-level political committee and parties will not obstruct the government to act on the matters. Collaboration with like-minded forces will take place in the coming Constituent Assembly (CA) election, he said. However, he ruled out possible merger between Mohan Baidhya-led CPN-Maoist now. 'Leader Baidhya will join the UCPN (Maoist) sooner or later but this time may be after the election'. He also said that elections will not be stopped even if Baidhya group does not want election to take place. Leader Prachanda has arrived in Ilam to inaugurate the central general convention of the Limbuwan National Liberation Front taking place in Panchthar from today. Nnnn B.ED RESULTS OUT Kathmandu, 11 June: The Tribhuvan University, Office of the Controller of Examinations today published result of regular examinations of Three-year B.ED held under the Department of Education in 2069 B.S, RSS reports.. The results can be accessed at www.educationsansar.com, www.edusanjal.com and www.ntc.net.com.np. nnnnn NEW DELHI RESUMING SUPPLY OF MILITARY HARDWARE Kathmandu, 11 June: Indian Army Chief Bikram Singh has termed Nepali Army as ‘the most apolitical, accountable and robust democratic institution in Nepal’. Addressing the flag-in ceremony of Joint Nepali-Indian Army Mt Everest Expedition 2013 at Jungi Adda this evening, General Singh said, “Nepal and India share “very unique and distinctive” relations. The militaries of two countries also shares common views, understanding and strategic goals, he added, The Himalayan Times reports.. The Indian army chief had arrived this morning for the flag-in ceremony of the successful expedition of the world’s highest peak by a group of 20 Nepali and Indian army personnel. The joint expedition was organised to mark the 60th anniversary of the first accent of Mt Everest by Tenzing Norgay and New Zealander Edmund Hillary on May 29 1953. “This expedition has paved a way to venture other pristine areas for future joint initiatives,” General Singh added. Nine personnel from the Nepali Army led by Maj Sunil Singh Rathour and 11 military men of India led by Maj RS Jamwal had successfully scaled the 8,848 meter’s peak on May 19 and May 20 this year. Besides, the two countries’ military teams also took up the Mt Everest cleaning mission and collected 4010 kg of garbage between the Everest Base Camp and the South Cole during their expedition. The armies also took part in Everest Marathon competition of 42 km from Namche to the Base Camp. Addressing the ceremony, Chief of the Army Staff Gaurav Shumsher JB Rana said the expedition had shown the talents, skills and bravery of the military. It has also enhanced the bilateral military relations between two countries, he said. He also announced the Nepali Army’s plan to include women personnel in future expeditions and expressed desire to lunch joint expedition with the armies of other countries. Commendation letters were conferred on those involved in the expedition team, along with those who took part in the cleaning and marathon missions. Besides, the world’s renowned mountaineers, record holders, former record holders, and previous Nepali Army climbers were also honoured. Min Bahadur Sherchan, who scaled Mt Everest at 77, 21 times record holder Aapa Sherpa, Aanrita Sherpa who climbed the peak without oxygen 10 times, Kanchha Sherpa, the sole survivor of the first successful expedition team of May 1953, among others, were feted. New Delhi to provide military equipment KATHMANDU: isiting Indian Army Chief General Bikram Singh today called on Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi at the latter’s office in Singh Durbar. He also hold talks with the Chief of Army Staff General Gaurav Shumsher Rana at the latter’s office today. During the meetings, General Singh expressed Indian Army’s readiness to provide necessary support and equipment to Nepali Army, particularly during the election. “The Indian Army Chief has committed that India would provide necessary military equipment to the Nepali Army and security support during the election in Nepal,” a NA statement quoted General Singh as telling to General Rana. He also suggested to increase the joint military training between the two countries in the days to come. General Singh had arrived in Kathmandu at the invitation of CoAS Rana in order to take part in the flag-in ceremony of the Joint Nepali-Indian Army Mt Everest Expedition 2013. General Singh will also call on President Ram Baran Yadav before he returns to India tomorrow. He had last visited Nepal in July 2012, when President Yadav had conferred him with the honorary general of Nepali Army, a customary practice of two countries since 1965. Nnnn SEVEN PERCENT GROWTH A MUST Kathmandu, 11 June: The country needs economic growth of seven per cent for some years continuously to graduate to the developing countries (DCs) category from the current Least Developed Countries (LDCs) status by the end of 2022, according to the target of the draft of third Three Year Interim Plan, said finance minister Shankar Koirala, addressing the journalists here at the Finance Ministry, today [Monday], The Himalayan Times reports.t. However, the government has been planning to target a modest growth rate of six per cent — though more than the last fiscal year’s projection of 5.5 per cent — as the budget for the next fiscal year would be more focused unlike the earlier distributive budgets, the finance minister said, adding that the politically-motivated programmes will be phased out and resources will be concentrated to key priorities like energy; infrastructure including roads, railways, north-south and east west highways, and irrigation projects; commercialisation of agriculture; tourism and import substitution and export promotion. The budget for the next fiscal year 2013-14 will take development oriented goals that will help alleviate poverty, generate employment, develop private sector, create an investment-friendly environment, maintain financial discipline and attract foreign investment, he added. “The monetary policy and revenue policy will also be aligned with the fiscal policy that will be non-political document,” he added. Claiming that macro-economic indicators are satisfactory, finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi, said that the government has, however, challenge to contain inflation — that is hovering over two digits — increase capital expenditure, diversify and promote of exports, increase agriculture production, manage mushrooming cooperatives that could hit financial stability, and stabilise Nepali rupees against strong US dollar. “Finance Ministry is planning seriously to plug revenue leakages, reform customs, and promote financial discipline also for the financial sector stability,” he added. As the government has been successful in revenue mobilisation in the current fiscal year due to high imports, the donors have also changed their strategy and asked Nepal to increase loans and decrease grants, Subedi said. Ceiling for foreign grant, loan Barring non-budgetary foreign aid, a draft Foreign Aid Policy has proposed a minimum ceiling of $5 million for grant and $20 million for loan. “The government should not accept less than the fixed ceiling and out of budget assistance,” according to the draft Foreign Aid Policy that has also proposed to accept foreign aid in priority sectors only for its maximum utilisation that could help propel growth. The loan should be accepted in large infrastructure projects only, whereas grants should be in the priority sectors only. It has been circulated to development partners for their feedback. “The draft Foreign Aid Policy will be finalised after feedback from them,” said finance secretary Shanta Raj Subedi. “The number of projects should be reduced but the aid should be increased,” the draft stated, adding that the stream lining of foreign aid is key to aid transparency and accountability, according to international commitments. nnnn