UN ready for a role in Nepal’s peace process: Secy General Guterres
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said United Nations is ready to play a role in Nepal’s peace process. He said so during a press conference soon after his meeting with Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal who invited UN for such a role as the peace and transition process at nearing conclusion.
Secretary General Guterres who arrived here last night on a four day visit at Prachanda’s invitation said any conclusion of the peace process has to be found well within the standards set at the international level, verdicts of the Supreme Court which together will be fulfilling the basic necessities of the victims of the conflict.
He said UN is ready to help evolve such a process for Nepal.
The Secretary General would be addressing joint session of parliament on Tuesday where he may be revealing more about the possible UN role in Nepal although political parties in Nepal have not yet come to collective agreement.
He, however, seems to be deeply immersed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. He ‘regretted the continuing attack on Gaza adversely impacting the humanitarian aid like ensuing food, water, medical treatment as well as shelter to around two million people there. Even for the Humanitarian aid to be ensured there must be a ceasefire.’
He expressed sorrow at the death of 10 Nepali youth on October 7 Hamas attack and appealed to the Hamas to ensure return of Bipin Joshi, Nepali youth who is still missing.
UN Secretary- General’s other priority agenda is to study climate change and mitigation of its effects. He said he will be going to the mountain (Annapurna Base Camp) to study the impact. He said ‘Nepal was getting into global crisis that it had no role in creating, therefore it deserves all help from international communities. The developed countries must help Nepal to overcome Covid 19 pandemic, inflation and effects of climate change’
Nepal’s glaciers in the past three decades Nepal has lost almost 1/3 of the snow and its glaciers are melting fast. ‘I want to hear directly from local communities here about the impacts they are facing.’
Beside Prime Minister Prachanda, Secretary General also had a meeting with President Ram Chandra Poudel, Deveraj Ghimire (Speaker), Sher Bahadur Deuba (Chairperson, Nepali Congress), K P Sharma Oli (Chief, CPN-UML) and other some senior ministers.
On the positive note, Guterres hailed for Nepal transiting to republic and to graduating upward from the least developing country.
He said in the current context, Buddha was very relevant and he would be visiting Lumbini, Buddha’s birthplace, as well.