SIPPORT

UN CHIEF EXTENDS SUPPORT TO POLITICAL PROCESS

Kathmandu, 2 July: UN Secretary-General Ban-Ki moon has pledged UN´s full support to Nepal´s political process, underlining the need to hold Constituent Assembly (CA) election in a credible and democratic manner, RSS reports.. In a meeting with Minister for Foreign Affairs Madhav Prasad Ghimire at the United Nations Office at Geneva last night, the UN Secretary-General appreciated the good progress made by Nepal in meeting most of the Millennium Development Goals. He also lauded the vision of Nepal for the graduation from the status of LDC by 2022 and praised the role played by Nepal in highlighting the concerns and difficulties of LDCs in multilateral forums. He said sustainable political stability helps achieve further progress on sustainable development. On the occasion, the Foreign Minister underlined the need for giving due recognition to the special needs and difficulties of LDCs and LLDCs in the articulation and implementation of the post 2015 development agenda. The Secretary-General deeply appreciated the role of the Nepalese peacekeepers and said that their sacrifices would not go in vain. Other issues that figured during the meeting include scope of wider cooperation for the development of Lumbini, and the role of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in the changed context and concern over its declining trend which might negatively impact on the achievement of the key goals and objectives outlined in the Istanbul Programme of Action. The importance of having a binding mechanism on the climate change and the necessity of a better disaster risk reduction strategy in particular for the vulnerable countries were also stressed. Earlier, the Minister participated in the opening session of the High-Level Segment of the Substantive Session of the Economic and Social of the United Nations (ECOSOC) at the Palais des Nations in Geneva. He also attended the Luncheon for Heads of Delegations hosted by the President of ECOSOC Mr. Nestor Osorio. The Minister for Foreign Affairs reaffirmed Nepal’s strong commitment to the United Nations Charter. He also updated the Secretary-General on the current situation in Nepal, in particular the progress on the peace process and the preparation being made for holding the elections of the Constituent Assembly on 19 November this year. He also expressed hope that the solidarity and support on the part of the Secretary General and the United Nations would continue in the coming months for the successful holding of the elections. While informing Government’s all-out efforts to bring all political parties on board, he reiterated the commitment to hold the Constituent Assembly elections in a free and fair manner.
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MAOIST CHIEF, JAPANESE AMBASSADOR DISCUSS ELECTION

Kathmandu, 2 July: UCPN (Maoist) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the election will take place in the stipulated date of November 19, RSS reports.. Chairperson Dahal said this at a meeting with Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Kunio Takahashi at former´s residence at Lajimpat on Tuesday morning. The government and the High-Level Political Committee (HLPC) are committed to hold the CA election in the stated time and that dialogue with dissent political parties to that end is on, Dahal´s aide Shiva Khakurel quoted him as saying. During the meet, Ambassador Takahashi expressed the confidence that the election will be held in a free, fair and impartial manner and pledged the Japan government´s support to the possible extent to that end. nnnn