UNMIN term extension has to be agreed upon by seven parties, says FM Pradhan

Amid debates on possible extension of terms and responsibilities of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN), Foreign Minister Sahana Pradhan has said that this decision will be taken only after it is agreed upon by the seven parties.

"The cabinet alone cannot decide (on extending tenure of UNMIN)," Pradhan told reporters, Wednesday, after she emerged from the cabinet meeting.

"Since the UN was called by both the government and the Maoists, any decision regarding its term would have to be taken by seven parties," she said.

The term of UNMIN is expiring in January. It had been called jointly by the government and the Maoists for one-year period in order to monitor the management of arms and armies of both sides and oversee election. Since both these activities are still incomplete, there is wide consensus that UNMIN's tenure should be extended by another six months to one year.

Recently, UNMIN chief Ian Martin had said that the UN Security Council would positively respond to request (from Nepal) for extending its term. nepalnews.com sd Nov 14 07

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