UNMIN term extended by six months

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has decided to extend the term of United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) by six more months.

The UNSC meeting in New York, on Friday, agreed, unanimously to extend the mandate of the UNMIN and endorsed its plans for further, gradual drawdown of the operation.

The UNMIN's tenure has been extended for third time.

It was slated to expire on January 23. Now it has been extended till July 23.

The UNSC has asked the Nepal government to take necessary decisions "to create conditions conducive to completion of UNMIN's activities by the end of the current mandate."

The resolution directed UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon to submit a report on the implementation of this resolution and the implications for UNMIN -- with a view to further downsizing the force -- no later than next April 30.

In a recent report on Nepal, Ban recommended that the number of UNMIN arms monitors remain at 73, as authorised when UNMIN was downsised last July, but that most of the 18 remaining civilian posts filled by retired military officers be abolished.. nepalnews.com Jan 24 09

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