U.S. ENVOY WOULD WELCOME MAOISTS TO DEMOCRATIC MAINSTREAM

February 23, 2007                

If the Maoists adhere to their commitments and finally renounce violence, Ambassador James F. Moriarty would enjoy welcoming their leader to the democratic mainstream, the U.S. envoy said in Kathmandu today.

The comment came in response to a question after the Ambassador delivered a speech at a conference of five Rotary Clubs, where he said the Maoists must renounce violence, meet their commitments, and return to cantonments they abandoned this week.

The Ambassador said:  “Actually I would welcome Mr. Prachanda coming into the political mainstream.  He hasn’t done it yet. He has made some moves that are encouraging; his movement as a whole has done lots of moves that made me worry. 

“But the single capping achievement of my tour here would be for me to be able to leave this country shaking Mr. Prachanda’s hand and say, ‘Welcome to the democratic mainstream.’ That would be the best possible future for Nepal that I could see.” The audience of approximately 200 applauded the envoy’s response.

Here is the text () of the Ambassador’s address, delivered at the “Rotary Conference on Peace and Development – Post Conflict:  Challenges and Opportunities.”