Nepal expresses reservations over UN Secretary General’s statement on national govt, army, political impasse

Nepal’s permanent envoy to the United Nations Madhu Raman Acharya has conveyed to the UN Security Council (UNSC) the position of 22 political parties backing the government on UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon’s report to the UNSC on the progress in Nepal’s peace process.

Informing the UNSC of Nepal government’s view on UNSG’s call for a national unity government, Acharya said, the constituent parties of the government are of the view that it is up to the parties and the sovereign legislature in Nepal to decide on the type of the government and that they are always open to include all the parties in the government. The parties have specifically asked the Unified CPN (Maoist) to join the coalition time and again, he added.

Earlier this week, the parties backing the government had concluded UNSG’s call for a national unity government was an intervention in Nepal’s internal affairs and decided to inform UN about it.

Addressing the UNSC meeting on Friday, Acharya also conveyed Nepal government’s reservations on references in the report that puts the national army at par with the Maoist combatants.

It is the view of the government that the references in the report implying parity between the regular national army and the former rebel combatants living in the UN monitored cantonments, who may have to be either integrated in the security forces or rehabilitated in the society and families, is not likely to assist a positive outcome in the ongoing negotiations on the future of the cantonments, said Acharya.

Acharya also conveyed Nepal government’s lamentation for not appreciating its ‘sincere’ efforts to resolve the current political impasse. He said, the report would have been more balanced if it had taken into account the sincere efforts made by the government of Nepal in addressing key issues of the peace process and in resolving outstanding issues for creating conducive environment for making further progress thereof.

Notwithstanding some occasional setbacks, he claimed, the ongoing peace process has made remarkable achievements and has completed several important milestones. Acharya expressed Nepal government’s confidence that the special committee formed to look after the integration of Maoist combatants and its technical committee formed would complete the remaining task of reaching an agreement on all issues related to the future of the cantonments.

He said Nepal intends to conclude the tasks of UNMIN by Jan. 30, 2010 till when the UN Mission is mandated to remain in Nepal. For that, the government of Nepal is committed to doing everything including reaching necessary political agreements required for the logical conclusion of the peace process, Acharya added.

On House obstruction by Unified CPN (Maoist), Acharya said, senior political leaders of major political parties are talking to each other and it is expected that they will soon reach an agreement to resolve the current impasse in the legislative parliament and to end the street agitation so that they would be able to move forward in the spirit of dialogue and consensus stipulated in the peace agreements.