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EU calls for mutual ceasefire in Nepal

A day after Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, called upon the royal government to reciprocate the Maoist ceasefire, the European Union (EU) has called upon both the government of Nepal and CPN (Maoist) to agree a mutual ceasefire.

In a statement issued by the British embassy in Kathmandu on Saturday, European Union Presidency said it supports Secretary General Annan’s offer of assistance. “The EU continues to see a need for the United Nations or other appropriate external body to help broker and monitor a ceasefire agreement and facilitate a peace process,” the statement said.

“The Presidency reiterates its call on the King and the government of Nepal to call a truce with a view to building the necessary confidence required for a political solution to the conflict. The EU has consistently urged the King to reach out to the political parties to develop a common agenda for a full return to multi-party democracy,” the statement further said.

The Presidency also called upon the CPN (M) to extend their ceasefire permanently and unconditionally. The EU had welcomed the CPN (M)’s original announcement of a unilateral ceasefire in September. EU donors have since welcomed the CPN (M)’s formal acceptance of the Basic Operating Guidelines. Extending the present unilateral ceasefire will be an important step towards permanently renouncing violence and partnership in a peace process in which the Maoists put their arms verifiably beyond use and rejoin the democratic mainstream, the statement said.

The Presidency repeats its call for all parties involved to work towards an inclusive national dialogue in Nepal with a view to resolving the underlying causes of conflict, the statement further said.

The EU presidency is rotated among its members in every six months. The EU presidency of the United Kingdom comes to an end today.

EU is one of the largest bilateral donors to Nepal. nepalnews.com by Dec 31 05