Nepal Mission - UN Urges Redoubled Efforts

Marking End Of Nepal Mission, UN Urges Redoubled Efforts To Advance Peace Process

New York, Jan 14 2011 4:10PM
Marking the end of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council today urged the Government and all political parties to find a way to complete the country’s peace process.

UNMIN was set up in 2007 after the Government and Maoists reached a peace agreement ending a war that claimed 13,000 lives. The Security Council decided to end its mandate after the Government and the Maoists pledged to complete the remaining tasks of the peace process by 15 January.

“Regrettably, insufficient progress was made,” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted in a <"http://www.un.org/apps/sg/sgstats.asp?nid=5033">message to the UN flag-lowering ceremony in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu. “I encourage the parties to redouble their efforts to build the confidence that can bring progress on all fronts of Nepal’s peace process.”

In the message, which was delivered by senior UN political official Tamrat Samuel, the Secretary-General recalled that UNMIN helped the parties to negotiate the agreement that has served as the basis for the monitoring of arms and armies.

The Mission, among other things, also provided support to the historic elections for a Constituent Assembly in 2008, which was one of its key tasks, along with monitoring the implementation of the arms monitoring agreement and the ceasefire code of conduct.

“Throughout its existence, UNMIN sought to instil confidence in the peace process and encourage attention to its most critical tasks,” said Mr. Ban, who assured the people of Nepal that the UN will remain engaged in the peace process through its Country Team, and through the continued engagement of the Department of Political Affairs.

Mr. Ban’s Representative in Nepal and head of UNMIN, Karin Landgren, <"http://www.unmin.org.np/downloads/pressreleases/RSG%20Closing%20Remarks.14.012011.ENG.pdf">noted at the ceremony that for the past four years, the UN has responded to Nepal’s request for support to its peace process through the deployment of the mission.

“From supporting the successful elections, to assisting in the operations for the removal of wartime landmines and explosives, to the registration and verification of Maoist army personnel and the discharge of those disqualified, UNMIN has worked with dedication and impartiality,” she stated.

“The Mission’s contribution to the peace process has been a job well done. But the peace process itself is unfinished,” she noted. The future of the Nepalese and Maoist armies and the drafting of a new constitution are among the major remaining issues.

The Security Council today, in a presidential statement, called on the caretaker Government of Nepal and all political parties to “redouble their efforts, to continue to work together in the spirit of consensus to fulfil the commitments that they made in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and other agreements, and to resolve expeditiously the outstanding issues of the peace process.”

The 15-member body also voiced its appreciation to Ms. Landgren and the UNMIN team for their efforts in assisting the people of Nepal as they work to complete the peace process.

After UNMIN officially comes to an end tomorrow at midnight, a small mission liquidation team will remain to complete administrative withdrawal matters.

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