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UN suggests Nepal govt, rebels to engage in confidence-building measures

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

New Delhi, Aug 4, IRNA
Nepal-UN-Peace
Visiting United Nations assessment mission regarding the world body's assistance to the peace process in Nepal has suggested the government and the Maoists to sincerely work out confidence-building measures on arms and armies management.

Head of the seven-member UN team Staffan de Mistura made the suggestion after the government and the Maoists failed to reach a common agreement regarding arms management issues before the mission left for New York, Kantipur reported.

Wrapping up his weeklong mission, de Mistura told journalists at Tribhuvan International Airport that the UN would continue urging confidence-building measures in the field of arms management even in the absence of the mission.

"If, in the next few days, when we are back in New York, these confidence-building measures regarding arms and arms management will reach a further development, that will certainly reinforce the trust of the UN Assessment report, which is going to be prepared by the middle of next week for the Secretary-General", de Mistura said.

The government and rebel talks team held a hectic meeting Thursday but failed to reach any conclusion on possible agreement regarding arms management.

"We (the government and the Maoists) couldn't draw up any conclusion on arms management today but are hopeful that a common agreement will be reached soon," Minister of State for Labor and Transport and a member of the government talks team Ramesh Lekhak told Kantipur.

Expressing that the UN team experienced a sense of cautious optimism about the possibilities for future and continuous engagement of the UN in various important aspects related to the peace process in Nepal, Mistura said that during the mission's stay there had been a concomitant, positive momentum in the discussions among all sides regarding the peace process.

The mission, according to Mistura, through its extensive meetings and its field visits, confirmed four concrete areas in which the UN, with the support of all sides, could positively contribute to the peace process.

"These are: Arms and armies management; electoral assistance; assistance in the monitoring of code of conduct; and expansion of human rights activities in Nepal."
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