A European Union delegation said here on Friday that Nepal is one of the nations that are in the top priority of EU assistance list in 2007.

The EU Troika delegation, led by Pekka Mesto, director for Asia and Oceania in the Ministry for Foreign Affairs of Finland, said that they were looking for ways to provide more support to Nepal. The delegation was on a three-day visit to Nepal from November 15- 17.

At a press conference before leaving Nepal, Mesto said they were ready to provide assistance to meet the urgent costs for limiting the guerrillas in the cantonments as per agreement between the Nepali government and guerrillas. "The cost will be shared by international community," he added.

The Nepali government has asked the international community to support in feeding and lodging of guerrillas after they go to cantonments and in other rehabilitation and reconstruction programs.

By representing the presidency of EU, Mesto said that the EU was also ready to support the Nepali government in its preliminary programs.

He also informed that the EU was considering how to provide assistance in preparation and observation of elections to constituent assembly.

He stressed on the need for full compliance of agreements between the Nepali government and guerrillas from the both sides.

"We are happy that both government and guerrillas have expressed their commitments to the agreement and we expect they act as per their words," he said.

The delegation had met the talks teams of both sides, civil society members and United Nations officials during the visit.

Source: Xinhua