Secretary-General, encouraged by requests for United Nations assistance,

appoints new personal representative for Nepal

 

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

The Secretary-General is firmly committed to support the peace process in Nepal and was, thus, encouraged to receive identical letters, earlier this month, from the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist), requesting assistance from the United Nations in a number of areas.  These include human rights monitoring, monitoring of the Code of Conduct during the ceasefire, management of arms and armed personnel of both sides, and electoral observation.  He believes it is now urgent to undertake follow-on consultations with all concerned parties in Nepal, in order to build on the common understanding that now exists, so that detailed planning for the United Nations assistance may proceed.

Accordingly, he has decided to appoint Ian Martin as his Personal Representative in Nepal for support to the peace process.  Building on the recent pre-assessment mission to the country, Mr. Martin will conduct intensive discussions with the key actors in Nepal.  He will begin his assignment immediately, and will be joined by a small multidisciplinary team that will assist him in advising the parties in the areas where the United Nations has been asked to help.

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For information media • not an official record