UN chief to parties: Overcome obstacles to hold timely polls

KATHMANDU, MAY 26 -

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon on Saturday urged all parties in Nepal to overcome remaining political obstacles to hold the country’s next election s within the existing timetable.

In a statement, Ban’s spokesperson said the Secretary General “has been following events in Nepal closely and urges all parties to maintain momentum by overcoming the remaining political obstacles to hold the next election s within the existing timetable of the recent 11-point agreement.”

In March, the four major political parties signed an agreement which appointed the country’s Chief Justice to head the government that will oversee the holding of Constituent Assembly election s, effectively ending the political stalemate that began late last year, the statement said, adding that the agreement has mandated that election s be held by June 21 or mid-December 2013 at the latest.

“The Secretary General expresses the continuing commitment of the United Nations to work closely with Nepal in support of the peace process,” it said.

Nepal has been plagued by political disputes since a civil war between the Government forces and the Maoists formally ended in 2007 and the monarchy was abolished.

The UN has closely supported Nepal’s peace process, having had a political mission in the country from 2007 until 2011. There have been important achievements in the peace process, including the completion of the discharge and integration process of the ex-Maoist army, the successful and largely peaceful election s in 2008, the removal of all minefields, and a smooth transition to a Republic.

However, challenges have included a missed May 27, 2012 deadline for a new constitution and the dissolution of the Constituent Assembly that followed, read the statement.

Source: The Kathmandu Post