Kathmandu, Mar 16:

The second round of discussions over the army integration proposal presented by Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai went smoothly on Friday although the meeting of the Army Integration Special Committee did not come up with any conclusion.

AISC members including its chairman, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai, remarked that the meeting was "moving ahead very positively."

In the meeting held at AISC office in New Baneshwor, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai made a detailed presentation of his preliminary proposal that he presented on Mar 13.

"We discussed the issues. There has not been any conclusion. The discussions are going very positively," AISC member representing main opposition party, Nepali Congress, Dr Ram Sharan Mahat informed the reporters after the more than two hours long meeting.

He did not elaborate all the issues dwelt upon though he said that the meeting was focused on how to initiate the integration process.

"We did not talk about rank determination as such, but we discussed about its basis," Dr Mahat said.

Bhim Rawal, AISC member representing CPN-UML, said that the AISC members put forward their views reaffirming their previous stances.

"As the Prime Minister presented his proposal with explanations, we also remarked on it in detail and argued for our existing positions that the seven point agreement is the meeting point in relation to integration," Rawal said.

On the issues discussed, leader Rawal said that executive order in relation to formation of directorate general of the Army, rank harmonization, calculation of service period and standard criteria for integration were among the top agenda talked about in the meeting.

"Referring to 7-point agreement, national and international standard criteria for army and the Army Act, we argued against many proposed issues including one level promotion for those who join the directorate and integration criteria," Rawal said.

The AISC meeting is scheduled for Sunday.