Secretary-General congratulates first President of Nepal

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today congratulated Ram Baran Yadav on his election as the first President of the Republic of Nepal, and called on all parties in the Asian country to cooperate in forming a new government.

Dr. Yadav was elected by Nepal’s Constituent Assembly on Monday.

The election was the latest move towards establishing a federal democratic republic in Nepal, which emerged from a decade-long civil war in 2006. An estimated 13,000 people were killed in fighting between Government and Maoist forces. The 240-year old monarchy was abolished in May.

The UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) is currently scaling down its presence in the country. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ian Martin, told the Security Council last week that the leaders of the three largest parties wanted UNMIN to continue after the expiry of its current mission on 23 July as a special political mission, to assist in taking the peace process forward.