WESTERN COUNTRIES WELCOME RECENT PROGRESS IN POLITICAL FRONT Kathmandu, 25 April: Australia Wednesday teamed up with Kathmandu-based missions of European Union, Norway and Switzerland to welcome recent progress in concluding the peace process and conclude constitution drafting. They said developments were encouraging.. “We hope that the momentum will contribute to the completion of a new democratic and inclusive constitution responding to the aspirations of the Nepali people, while containing adequate checks and balances, and strengthening the rule of law,” they said in a joint statement. "The new momentum and progress achieved in the high level negotiations on system of governance and a new national government structure for Nepal, including contentious constitutional issues, is encouraging," the statement added. “We strongly believe that transitional justice mechanisms which are genuinely independent, seek both truth and reconciliation, and which give victims the fullest opportunity for redress, are essential to consolidate the peace process.” "...we would like to note that the fight against impunity and adequate investigation and prosecution of conflict-era human rights violations should not be sacrificed to the need of expedient solutions in other areas," they said. "We urge all parties to ensure the transitional justice mechanisms are established with full independence and in compliance with international standards,” the statement added. nnnn