The Hindu : National : Centre confirms resuming arms supplies

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, May 11, 2005

National

National

Centre confirms resuming arms supplies

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Government on Tuesday confirmed that it had decided to release some of the defence supplies to Nepal including (mine-proof) vehicles following the lifting of emergency in the country on April 29. India's Ambassador to Nepal conveyed this message to the King at a meeting on Monday.

"It is our expectation that in the coming days, Kathmandu will take further and early steps towards restoration of multi-party democracy and constitutional monarchy, which remain, in our view, the two pillars of political stability in Nepal and for meeting the challenges of the Maoists,'' the official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs said. He was responding to a report in The Hindu stating that the Cabinet Committee on Security had cleared the resumption of military aid to Nepal.

The spokesperson said that Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and External Affairs Minister K. Natwar Singh conveyed to the King in Jakarta that resumption of defence supplies was contingent upon the lifting of emergency, ensuring press freedom and releasing all political parry leaders and activists. Nepal was also advised to bring the political parties and the institution of monarchy together in a broad national effort to tackle the political and economic challenges facing the kingdom. The King had indicated his intention to take steps towards these objectives. "In this context, our Prime Minister agreed to consider the issue of supplies to the Royal Nepal Army in the proper perspective,'' the spokesperson said.

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