Nepal Peace Process Needs Collective Political Will - Karin Landgren

Kathmandu, 6 January:

Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal Karin Landgren has given her final brief in the UN Security Council today. Through the brief, she presented, called on the parties to end the political deadlock. For that she urged the political parties to recommit themselves to the essence and the aspiration of the Comprehensive Peace Accord. She also requested the parties to make an agreement on the monitoring of arms and armies before UNMIN’s departure on 15 January. She said, “The remaining tasks of the peace process, and particularly the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel, require collective political will. No party on its own can identify and implement satisfactory solutions.

But the failure of the peace process to advance has strengthened the hand of those on all sides who deride it as unproductive or far too slow.” She pointed the duration from which the peace process really obstructed and said, Nepal’s peace process remains largely deadlocked following the resignation of Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal in June 2010. There has been little progress on the most critical issues of forming a new government, integrating and rehabilitating the personnel of the Maoist army, and writing the new constitution,”

In spite of all challenges, she is satisfied with the task of UNMIN in Nepal and said, “Despite many challenges, Nepal’s arms monitoring regime has been strikingly successful. There have been violations, as reported to the Council, but these have been the exception. Based on a legal agreement and a light presence of UN Arms Monitors, the main ingredients have been the armies’ self-discipline and the UN-chaired Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee, a reliable mechanism for building confidence, addressing violations, and resolving disputes.”

Karin Landgren called on the parties to bring the peace process to a close satisfactorily, through the negotiated resolution of outstanding issues. “Setbacks and challenges are inevitable but it is in the interest of the country, the region and the international community as a whole that the peace process be maintained, respected, and steered to a proper close. UNMIN has continued to encourage dignified negotiated solutions, which require a moderation of positions on all sides.

The parties can build on the dialogue that has been their longstanding strength; shun the demonising of one another; and sidestep the broad array of spoilers. At this moment, we encourage them to come to rapid agreement on the future of the monitoring of arms and armies.