Secretary-General welcomes move to suspend military action in Nepal

The following statement is attributable to the Spokesman for Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General welcomes the announcement by the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) to suspend military action for a period of nine days coinciding with the Nepalese Dashain festivals beginning on 20 October 2004 and the decision of His Majesty’s Government of Nepal not to initiate offensives against the insurgent forces.

The Secretary-General considers this to be a positive first step towards the possible resumption of a peace process in Nepal, which he believes to be a matter of urgent importance.  He strongly encourages the Government and Maoists to extend the suspension of hostilities beyond the holiday period in the interest of peace and the restoration of a degree of normalcy, which ordinary Nepalese citizens desperately need.

The Secretary-General remains at the disposal of Nepal to assist in any manner that would lead to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nepal.

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