US Assistant Secretary; EU Troika arrive in Nepal

Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Richard A. Boucher and the European Union Troika arrived in Kathmandu this morning on a three-day visit to Nepal.
Richard arrived here to discuss Nepal's latest political situation.
Talking to reporters following his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport, Boucher said that he would discuss the latest developments in the ongoing peace process.
The Assistant Secretary will meet top political leaders, government representatives, and members of civil society among others during his stay.
Similarly, the EU Troika, led by Pekka Metso, Director for Asia in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, representing the Presidency of the EU also arrived in Kathmandu today.
According to reports, the Troika will meet high-level representatives of the Government of Nepal, political parties and members of the civil society.
Talking to journalists upon his arrival to Nepal, chief of the team Metso said that the decision to bring Maoists into interim government is a necessary step for restoration of peace in the country.
Meanwhile, politburo member of the ruling Communist Party of India and Upper House member Sitaram Yechuri is also arriving in Kathmandu today.
Yechuri, during his two-day stay in Kathmandu, is scheduled to meet Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal, Maoist Chairman Prachanda and other leaders of the SPA and Maoists, according to sources.
Yechuri played important role to garner international support in favour of April movement of the country.
These visits coincide with signature on the comprehensive peace accord by the Government of Nepal and the CPN (Maoist) as per the agreement reached between the ruling seven party alliance and Maoists on November 8.