PM Dahal meets Prez Bush, stresses stronger Nepal-US ties

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (File photo)

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and US President George W Bush shared pleasantries and discussed bilateral relations between Nepal and the US Monday night (Tuesday morning, according to Nepal Standard Time) in a brief meeting during a dinner the US President hosted in honour of the Heads of Delegations who reached New York to attend the 63rd General Assembly of the United Nations.

Although the statement issued by Nepal mission in New York does not state anything if PM Dahal held talks with President Bush on the occasion, but reports quoted reliable sources as saying that the Nepali premiere appeared in a jovial mood after his meeting with the US President.

Nepalipost.com, a US based website, quoted a member of the delegation as saying that during the meeting PM Dahal stressed the need to further consolidate the ties between Nepal and the US and "requested US support for the economic revolution" Nepal hopes to achieve.

In response, President Bush assured the Nepali PM that Washington would support Nepal even amid the changed political scenario. Although America is yet to remove CPN (Maoist) from the "group of concern" list U.S state department maintains that loosely defines the former rebel party as a "terrorist outfit", during the meeting which is said to have gone on for 10 minutes Bush was very cordial with PM Dahal.

PM Dahal along with his wife Sita had arrived at New York Monday afternoon at 1:30 pm and was received at the airport by the Permanent Representative of Nepal to the UN, Madhu Raman Acharya and Geeta Acharya. Ambassador of Nepal to the United States Dr. Suresh Chandra Chalise. Officials of the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN were also present on the occasion.

A special security team escorted PM Dahal and his delegation from the airport to the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York.

PM Dahal is scheduled to address the UN General Assembly on Friday wherein he will tell the world community about the recent political changes in Nepal, the peace process and the achievement of the Maoist government he leads. While in New York, PM Dahal will also attend programmes organised by The Asia Society and India China Institute, according to reports. nepalnews.com ag/ia Sep 23 08