KATHMANDU, Feb 20: While stating that the government’s stance on the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact had not changed, Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali has said that a task force formed by the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP) only had a mandate to study the agreement and clarify some things that have courted controversy.
Talking to a group of journalists upon his arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport from Bangladesh on Wednesday, Gyawali said the government’s stance is that the MCC agreement should be endorsed through parliament to expedite the projects being developed with the MCC grant.
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Gyawali, however, said that the government will receive suggestions from the task force formed to study the impact of the MCC.
He clarified that the task force will not take any decision whether to pass the MCC or not. “It will give some suggestions to the government. It is up to the government whether to accept the US grant or not,” he said, adding that the task force had been authorized only to study and clarify the controversies raised over the MCC.
The NCP’s task force comprises Jhalanath Khanal, Foreign Minister Pradip Gyawali and leader Bhim Rawal.
