{"article":{"id":28457,"heading":"Brits continue military aid to King of Nepal","author":"The Himalayan Times","created":"2003-02-08 21:45:19","modified":"2003-02-08 21:45:19","last_modified":"Sun, 09 Feb 2003 04:45:19","article":"<br>  <br> Truce not to affect military aid: UK <br><br> \"Himalayan News Service\", <br><br> Kathmandu, February 6, <br><br>  <br><br> Britain today indicated that it would continue to provide military assistance to Nepal despite the ceasefire, but the assistance would mainly focus on training of the Royal Nepalese Army. <br><br> The indication came following the visit of the United Kingdom's interdepartmental mission that concluded its weeklong visit to Nepal today. <br><br> \"We look at Nepal's needs independently,\" said a member of the mission. \"The military assistance will continue and there will be no decline in the aid next fiscal year (beginning April).\" <br><br> The mission was led by Stephen Smith, head of the South Asian Department, and comprised senior officials from the British Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development. <br><br> Britain provided 6.7 million sterling pound under the Global Conflict Prevention Pool for the current British fiscal year ending in March. Projects funded from the pool aim at short-term development and reinforcing Nepal's development, military and police capacity. <br><br> London welcomed the government-Maoist ceasefire as an \"important and positive development,\" and expressed the hope that the ceasefire will lead to a negotiated settlement and pave way from peace in Nepal. <br><br> Britain has also expressed its interest in supporting, if Nepal so desires, the peace process since a lot of work needs to be done, and it is vital that all groups in Nepal do everything they can to end the pain and suffering this conflict has caused. <br><br> The mission also met King Gyanendra, government leaders, defence officials and development partners, and reiterated Britain's commitment to work with Nepal towards lasting peace in the country. <br><br> Britain also contributes over 22 million sterling pound as annual bilateral development assistance to Nepal. <br><br> Elsewhere, France and Russia welcomed the peace talks in Nepal, expressing their desires to see the bloodshed end in the small, impoverished country.\n","contact":"","link":"http:\/\/www.thehimalayantimes.com\/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata2wjqzqa5a8Pa0wa.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20030207","address":"","phone":"","parent_id":0,"mime_type":"text\/plain","summary":"Britain provided 6.7 million sterling pound for the current British fiscal year reinforcing Nepal's development, military and police capacity.","numcomment":0,"fileurl":"\/uploads\/","filesize":null,"article_url":"\/news\/2003\/02\/28457.php"},"attachments":[],"comments":[]}