'Nepal crisis stems from mistrust among political camps'
UN Secretary General's Special Envoy urges Nepal's ruling alliance members to set a date for the postponed Constituent Assembly elections.
By PTI |
UNITED NATIONS: Claiming that the current political crisis in Nepal stems from "mistrust" among the parties to the peace process, a top UN official has urged the Himalayan country's leaders to reach an agreement fast.
UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon's Special Envoy Ian Martin Friday emphasised the need to safeguard Nepal's ruling Seven-Party Alliance and urged its members to set a date for the postponed Constituent Assembly elections together with a roadmap for future steps, including issues related to the public security.
The crucial polls were earlier scheduled for November 22 but postponed iundefinitely due to a stand-off between the government and Maoists over the former rebels' demands, including declaration of the country a republic.
The crisis has left the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) with no exit strategy as far as its role in arms monitoring is concerned, Martin told reporters, adding that the UN Security Council would favourably consider extension of its mission.
Martin, who briefed the 15-member Council on the key concerns of the United Nations, noted that the immediate cause for postponement of the elections was demands by Maoists that the legislature -- and not Constituent Assembly to be elected -- immediately declare the country a Republic and that electoral system be fully proportional. Both the demands were in contradiction of the previous agreement.
But the crisis, he said, is not just the consequence of these two demands but also stems from growing "mistrust" amongst the parties to the peace agreement with both sides unwilling to make good on commitments they had made.
UN Secretary General Ban-Ki Moon's Special Envoy Ian Martin Friday emphasised the need to safeguard Nepal's ruling Seven-Party Alliance and urged its members to set a date for the postponed Constituent Assembly elections together with a roadmap for future steps, including issues related to the public security.
The crucial polls were earlier scheduled for November 22 but postponed iundefinitely due to a stand-off between the government and Maoists over the former rebels' demands, including declaration of the country a republic.
The crisis has left the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) with no exit strategy as far as its role in arms monitoring is concerned, Martin told reporters, adding that the UN Security Council would favourably consider extension of its mission.
Martin, who briefed the 15-member Council on the key concerns of the United Nations, noted that the immediate cause for postponement of the elections was demands by Maoists that the legislature -- and not Constituent Assembly to be elected -- immediately declare the country a Republic and that electoral system be fully proportional. Both the demands were in contradiction of the previous agreement.
But the crisis, he said, is not just the consequence of these two demands but also stems from growing "mistrust" amongst the parties to the peace agreement with both sides unwilling to make good on commitments they had made.
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