UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday pledged to ensure that UN assistance arrives as soon as possible to build on a peace accord signed between the Nepalese government and the Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) (formerly known as guerilla) to end a 10-year civil war.
"Through ending the armed conflict, the people of Nepal now have the opportunity to build lasting peace in an inclusive democracy," Annan said in a statement issued by his spokesman.
"This agreement places great trust and responsibility on the United Nations as it asks that we assist Nepal in various aspects of the peace process, including as an immediate step the monitoring of arms and armed personnel and providing electoral assistance," Annan said.
Through his personal representative in Nepal, Ian Martin, Annan said he was working closely with the parties to ensure that UN assistance "can arrive as promptly as possible." Martin attended the signing ceremony in the Nepalese capital, Kathmandu, Tuesday, calling the agreement "entirely a Nepali achievement."
The United Nations is going to supervise the peace process in the country. After holding consultations with the government and the CPN, it has inspected and finalized seven main camps and 21 sub-camps where the rebels' armies and arms will be kept till elections to a constituent assembly are held. The UN mission will monitor around 35,000 CPN soldiers and the 90,000-strong Nepali Army.
(Xinhua News Agency November 23, 2006)
