Norway pats Dahal on back

BY JOHN NARAYAN PARAJULI
AMSTERDAM, May 8 - Norway has appreciated Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s act of quitting the government and hoped that the peace process continues despite the hiccups.
“Maoists deserve credit for acting democratically in the current crisis. When they could not do what they wanted, the Prime Minister resigned in a true democratic fashion,” Norwegian Minister for Environment and International Development Erik Solheim told the Post over phone from Oslo.
“I take a very optimistic view. I am hopeful that the conflict will be resolved peacefully and that Nepal’s peace process will continue to move further in positive direction.”
He stressed that the international community can assist but only the local ownership can yield meaningful results. “First of all, the local ownership is important to resolve any conflict,” Minister Solheim said.
“Of course if any assistance is asked of us, we will provide whatever we can.”
Minister Solheim played a part in encouraging the Maoists to come to mainstream, which ultimately led to the initiation of the current peace process.
Norway opened a line of communication with the Maoists when they were still in hiding. He said that Norway has a policy of speaking to everyone. Solheim has served as the Norwegian facilitator for negotiations between the LTTE and the Sri Lankan government and keeps close tabs on attempts at conflict resolution.
In 2003-4, he said many Nepalis spoke to him about emulating the Sri Lankan model. But in less than two years, Nepal became a model for the rest of the world, he added.
The Scandinavian countries, including Norway, have been relatively more positive and accommodating of Maoist participation in the democratic process.
Minister Solheim, who hosted Prime Minister Dahal during his Norway visit, said he was impressed by Dahal's leadership. Responding to a question, he said that the Maoists acted democratically. “Maoists deserve credit for acting democratically in the current crisis.”
"It was an independent decision on the part of the Maoists to take part in the peace process. Norway was the first country to speak to the Maoists while they were still in the jungle. Our general policy is to speak to everyone. We were also talking with the CPN UML, Nepali Congress and other parties,” he said.
I have been impressed by Prime Minister Prachanda’s leadership both as the leader of his party and as the Prime Minister of Nepal during his visit to Norway.”

Excerpts from the interview will be posted later.