• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

Nepal gov't to invite UN to help manage, monitor arms

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, June 19, IRNA
Nepal-UN-Monitor Arms
In order to ensure fair constituent assembly elections, the government has begun working out a draft-letter to send to the United Nations, requesting the organization to help manage the armies and weapons of both sides and to monitor them.

The government, as per the agreement with the Maoist rebels on Friday, is set to request the UN to help in the monitoring and management of the armies and arms of both sides during the constituent assembly elections said to be held by mid-April next year, Kantipur reported from Kathmandu.

"We have begun working on the draft letter inviting the UN," said Pradip Gyawali, minister for tourism, culture and civil aviation and a member of the government negotiating team.

He added, "We are expecting the UN's role not only in managing but also in decommissioning [Maoists'] arms up to the phase of rehabilitation [of the Maoists]."
The high-level talks held between the top brass leaders of the alliance and the Maoists at the prime minister's residence at Baluwatar on Friday had concluded with an eight-point agreement between the two sides, in which both sides agreed to request the UN for help in the management and monitoring of arms and armies of both sides during constituent assembly elections.

Stating that no foreign troops would be present during the management and monitoring of the arms, the minister said, "Foreign experts will be there during the monitoring and management of the arms.

"We have no plan to bring in foreign troops," he said adding, "Conflict experts, and military experts will arrive to collect the arms."
Speaking at a separate programme in the capital today, Minister Gyawali said, "The government forces have returned to the barracks so there will be no problem created by the government."
Welcoming the agreement, the UN's Resident Coordinator in Nepal, Matthew Kahane, yesterday said that the UN was interested in seeing the invitation.

2160/2322/1412