Top UN political delegate urges parties to rebuild trust

Visiting United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, B. Lynn Pascoe, has urged Nepal's political forces to rebuild trust for the success of the peace process.

Pascoe made the call during his meetings with top leaders of major political parties. He started high profile political meetings soon after landing in Kathmandu Wednesday afternoon.

"With all his interlocutors, Pascoe emphasized the importance of rebuilding trust and moving forward in the peace process, and also discussed UNMIN's continuing contribution to the process," a press statement issued by UNMIN said.

Pascoe, who is here on a three-day visit, held discussions with Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala and senior Nepali Congress leaders, UCPN-Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Soon after arriving in Kathmandu, Pascoe went to NC president Koirala's residence in Maharajgunj, discussing issues related to the future of peace process in Nepal.

During his stay in Nepal, he will meet few other leaders including leaders of Madhesi parties, Minister of Defence Bidhya Bhandari and Chief of Army Staff Chhatraman Singh Gurung.

He will also travel to Maoist Cantonment Site 3 at Shaktikhor, Chitwan to see UNMIN arms monitoring efforts. He also plans to meet with Madhesi leaders.

Pascoe is visiting Nepal at a time when the future of peace process is increasingly becoming uncertain with major political parties failing to sort out their differences over integration of the Maoist combatants.

He is the most senior UN official to visit Nepal after the extension of the UNMIN's term in January this year. nepalnews.com