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Nepal
Premier Koirala arrives
New
Delhi: Nepalese Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala arrived
here today on his first official visit after assuming the
prime ministership. He was received by Prime Minister Manmohan
Singh at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in the evening.
Manmohan Singh's warm gesture to receive Koirala at the airport
reportedly already charmed the Nepalese Premier, who is on
a four- day visit to India for seeking "economic help". Nepalese
officials accompanying the delegation were quoted as saying
the Koirala was very happy that the Prime Minister himself
received him at the airport. Koirala, 84, who is visiting
New Delhi at the invitation of Singh, is accompanied by a
high-profile delegation of five ministers and business representatives.
His visit is being considered significant, as it comes at
a crucial time when the proposed elections to Nepal's Constituent
Assembly is scheduled to be held shortly. The elections would
decide on the role of monarchy in the future political set
up of Nepal. This apart, both leaders are expected to discuss
on the progress being made in the first-ever talks between
the Nepal Government and the Maoist rebels. Koirala was sworn
in as the Prime Minister of Nepal after a nationwide movement
against the King Gyanendra's monarchy led to the restoration
of democracy in the Himalayan kingdom.