Annan appoints new envoy for Nepalese peace process amid encouraging signs
Heartened by signals that Nepal’s disputed parties are starting to build mutual understanding, Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today that he has appointed a new envoy to spearhead the United Nations’ efforts to promote peace in the troubled Himalayan country.
Heartened by signals that Nepal’s disputed parties are starting to build mutual understanding, Secretary-General Kofi Annan announced today that he has appointed a new envoy to spearhead the United Nations’ efforts to promote peace in the troubled Himalayan country.
Ian Martin has been chosen as Mr. Annan’s Personal Representative in Nepal for Support to the Peace Process, according to a statement released today at UN Headquarters in New York by the Secretary-General’s spokesman. The seasoned envoy has previously served on several occasions as Special Envoy to Timor-Leste.
Mr. Martin, who assumes the post immediately, “will conduct intensive discussions with” Nepal’s key actors, the statement said, adding that he will be assisted by a small multi-disciplinary team of UN officials.
Earlier this month the Nepalese Government and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) sent identical letters requesting UN help in areas ranging from human rights monitoring to electoral observation to management of arms and armed personnel.
Noting that he was encouraged to receive those letters, Mr. Annan said in his statement that he believes “it is now urgent to undertake follow-on consultations with all concerned parties in Nepal in order to build on the common understanding that now exists, so that detailed planning for UN assistance may proceed.”
The appointment follows the recent week-long UN assessment mission to Nepal, where a ceasefire is in place after a 10-year conflict that has killed some 15,000 people.