Kathmandu: Amid political uncertainty
over a new government in Nepal, a top UN official has asked
the political parties here to take early decisions on the
formation of a consensus government to take the ongoing peace
process to a successful conclusion.
"There is no doubt that the January 15 deadline for
UNMIN`s withdrawal has created a new sense of urgency among
the parties, and more focused thinking on how to end the
prolonged stasis is taking place," Under-Secretary-General for
Political Affairs B Lynn Pascoe has said.
Pascoe visited Nepal on October 6 and 7 on behalf of
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and held extensive parleys with
key stakeholders in the peace process as part of the
preparations to brief the Security Council regarding the
progress made in the implementation of the Four-Point
Agreement of September 13 between the Government of Nepal and
the Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoist.
The same resolution also explicitly states that
UNMIN`s mandate would terminate on January 15, 2011.
During his briefing to the UN Security Council in New
York on October 14, Pascoe said, "It is still possible for the
parties to meet their targets in time but, as I stressed to
all those I met during my visit, it will require translating
this new-found sense of urgency into decision-making and
concrete action."
The Under-Secretary-General said that despite recent
progress and important steps in the peace process, a political
impasse remains and no breakthrough has been achieved.
"If the parties fail to manage their differences in
order to complete this common agenda, it is they and the
people of Nepal that stand to lose," Pascoe said.
Nepal`s Parliament has failed to elect a new Prime
Minister even in the 12th round of election held last week.
The new election date is slated for October 26.
Pascoe suggested the political parties to give
priority to integration and rehabilitation of the combatants
which would permit the closure of the cantonments.
Stressing on the need to continue dialogue among the
key stakeholders, Pascoe expressed hope that political
breakthrough was possible in early November, after the end of
the current holiday period in Nepal.
"We also believe this is possible if the parties
exhibit the necessary flexibility and will," he said.
"Progress on forming a consensus government or on the
substantive issues related to integration and rehabilitation
could provide the critical momentum for a breakthrough,"
Pascoe added.
PTI
