KATHMANDU: The Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Vice President of Compact Operations, Fatema Z. Sumar is scheduled to meet with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda today.
While Prime Minister Deuba is preparing to pass the MCC from the parliament, the ruling coalition’s Maoist Center) Chairman Prachanda and CPN (Unified Socialist) Chairman Madhav Nepal are not in favor of passing the MCC in a letter and spirit. Hence, Prime Minister Deuba is facing difficulties in implementing the MCC.
The ruling coalition Janata Samajwadi Party (JSP) is positive about the MCC.
MCC Vice President Sumar has intensified political meetings upon her arrival in Nepal Thursday. She met with Unified Socialist Chairman Madhav Kumar Nepal. During the meeting with the delegation of the MCC, Unified Socialist Chairman Nepal said that his party would take appropriate decision by keeping the issue of national interest at the center.
Similarly, Sumar-led MCC delegation also reached Balkot to hold talks with CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli Thursday afternoon. During the meeting, Chairman Oli said the UML will present its views on MCC only after the government clarifies its stance on the compact.
Sumar arrived in Kathmandu on a four-day visit to Nepal Thursday to specifically affirm that the MCC grant program has no military component and that it will not impede on Nepal’s sovereignty.
She will also reiterate that Nepal’s Constitution will prevail over the agreement, according to a press statement released by the US Embassy here Thursday.
In her meeting with various government officials, and business and community leaders, she will discuss the required next steps to implement the 500 million USD MCC-Nepal infrastructure program and address the clarification questions provided by the Ministry of Finance while also hearing from the people of Nepal.
It may be noted that prior to negotiating and signing the compact in 2017, the Government of Nepal designed the five-year grant program to provide more reliable electricity and lower power and transportation costs for all Nepalis, adds the statement.
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