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U.N. chief: Nepal parties must join hands

KATHMANDU: In a report released a few days ahead of his first visit to Nepal, U.N. Secretary-General Ban ki-Moon has urged Nepal’s political parties to find consensus over issue of Army integration.

In the report, Mr. Ban said “there are substantial disagreements to be overcome.” He also raised concerns about framing the Constitution in the stipulated six months’ time.

“This delay is raising concerns about prospects for the completion of the Assembly’s task within the two-year period provided for, under the interim Constitution,” he wrote. The Constituent Assembly was convened on May 28, but the Constitution-drafting process has not started yet.

Mr. Ban said the peace process has been affected as the Maoists have not fulfilled their past agreements, especially in the context of returning seized properties, compensation to victims, investigation of displaced people and reform of the Maoists’ youth wing, the Young Communist League.

He wrote the election of the President, Prime Minister, Vice-President and the formation of Council of Ministers has taken the peace process forward.

He also welcomed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s commitments to take the peace process to its logical conclusion, and his faith in multiparty democracy and the protection and promotion of human rights.

“The Nepali Congress, under the leadership of the former Prime Minister, Girija Prasad Koirala, played a key role in the process and although it has decided not to join the Maoist-led government, I welcome its commitment to cooperation in the drafting of the new Constitution and completion of the peace process,” he wrote in the report.

Mr. Ban will visit Nepal on October 31.

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