Secretary-General welcomes agreement to set up UN human rights office in Nepal

Secretary-General Kofi Annan today welcomed the signing of an agreement between the United Nations human rights office and the Government of Nepal to set up an operation to monitor the observance of civil liberties and international law in the Himalayan kingdom.

"This is an important development that should help prevent human rights abuses and contribute to the peaceful resolution of the conflict in Nepal," said a statement issued by Mr. Annan's spokesman.

The Memorandum of Understanding was signed Monday by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour and Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey and will be implemented immediately. It provides for field offices to be set up at the regional level to ensure rapid responses to reports of violations.