E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 03 -

The UN Under Secretary General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe arrived here in the Capital on Friday to make an assessment of efforts being made to take ahead the peace process and ensure an orderly withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) on Friday.

Upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Pascoe informed that during his short stay in India he held discussions on Nepal's peace process with the officials at the Indian Foreign Ministry.

Noting that only 43 days to go before the expiry of UNMIN’s term, Pascoe said the peace process will be completed within the remaining time if the political parties become serious towards the same.

As soon as he landed in the TIA, Pascoe was driven straight to the President’s office in Shital Niwas, Maharajgunj.

During his discussion with President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, the UN political department chief enquired about the progress being made on the peace process in the run-up to the expiry of UNMIN’s last term and the possible scenario after UNMIN’s withdrawal.

In response, President Yadav said the political parties have been trying their best to forge consensus to take the peace process to a logical conclusion and complete the statute drafting.

According to President's Press Advisor Rajendra Dahal, the President expressed his hope that United Nations would continue its grace to Nepal’s peace process even after the departure of UN body.

Pascoe’s visit comes in line with the UN Security Council's decision to withdraw UNMIN after its mandate expires in mid-January. Pascoe will update the Security Council on the status of the peace process following his visit in the country.

Pascoe is scheduled to look particularly at the status of decision-making and planning for integration and rehabilitation of Maoist combatants and for ensuring an orderly withdrawal of UNMIN. This is Paosoe's second visit to Nepal following the Security Council's decision to extend UNMIN's term for the last time in September.

During last visit in October, Pascoe had urged the government and the Maoists to agree on a clear action plan on rehabilitation and integration of Maoist combatants with timelines and benchmarks. The major parties have, however, not made any progress in this regard.

Pascoe's meeting schedule:

Friday

    FM Sujata Koirala

    DPM Bijay Kumar Gachhedar

    UML Vice-Chairman Ashok Rai

    Top leaders of four Madhes based parties 

    Special Committee members

    Maoists Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal

Saturday

    NC President Sushil Koirala

    US Ambassador Scott H DeLisi and US Deputy Assistant Secretary Alyssa Ayres

    Envoys of Australia, Denmark, Norway, the European High Commission, Switzerland and Finland

    Chinese Ambassador Qiu Guohong

    British Ambassador John Tucknott

    Joint meeting with ambassadors of P5 countries (the US, the UK, Russia, France and China)

    French Envoy Jean Charles Demarquis  

    Indian Ambassador Rakesh Sood

    Speaker Subas Nembang

 

Posted on: 2010-12-03 11:24

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