Martin says he is delighted to work in Nepal
UN Secretary General's personal representative and head of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), Ian Martin, has expressed satisfaction towards what he called progress in the on-going peace process in Nepal.
In his first statement after being appointed as the head of UNMIN, Martin said, "I am delighted to be able to continue working for peace in Nepal and honoured by the responsibility given to me by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, to ensure that the United Nations is doing everything that it has been asked to do, to contribute to the success of the peace process."
He further said, "Having first arrived in Nepal in May 2005 in the midst of full-scale armed conflict, it is remarkable to me how far the country has progressed in such a short period. At the same time, there can be no room for complacency or illusion that building lasting peace in Nepal will be easy."
Regarding the recent Terai unrest, Martin has stated, "The death toll across the Terai in recent days is a tragic reminder of the magnitude of the challenges facing Nepal and the need to address them through dialogue and flexibility."
Former head of the Officer of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Nepal, Martin said much hard work remains to be done before a free and fair Constituent Assembly election can be held, absent the threat of arms or intimidation. He said the United Nations, for its part, stands ready to assist a peace process guided by and for the people of Nepal. nepalnews.com ia Feb 09 07
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