Secretary-General, Welcoming Election of Prime Minister in Nepal,

Expresses Hope for Inclusive New Government

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon:

The Secretary-General welcomes the election on 28 August of Babu Ram Bhattarai as Prime Minister of Nepal and extends his congratulations to the Prime Minister.  He hopes to see the early establishment of an inclusive Government through consensus and compromise.

While noting the serious discussions and the progress made in the past few months on the integration and rehabilitation of former Maoist army combatants as well as important aspects of the future constitution, the Secretary-General urges the parties to fully resolve these questions within the newly extended period of three months for the Constituent Assembly to complete its work.

The Secretary-General once again calls on the parties to regain the spirit of consensus and cooperation that has been the foundation of their collective effort to bring sustainable peace to Nepal and to carry out all outstanding commitments without delay.  He reaffirms the continued support of the United Nations to these efforts.

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