KATHMANDU: United Nations Secretary General Ban ki-moon warned that differences among the major political parties in Nepal continued to impede implementation of peace process commitments, decision-making, and hindering work in the Legislature-Parliament. Secretary General's report scheduled to be presented at the UN Security Council next week noted that positive measures such as nationwide public consultations on constitutional matters and Constituent Assembly committees preparation on concept papers were made. Ban in the report noted that progress is marked by fractious relations among the four political parties in the Maoist-led coaltion, public acrimony and weak consultation over major decisions. 'Notwithstanding the formation of coordination committees to strengthen relations and cooperation between UCPN-M and its major governing coalition partner, the Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist-Leninist) (UML), and among the four political parties in the Maoist-led coalition Government, those relations remained fractious, marked by public acrimony and weak consultation over major decisions.'

Ban reiterated the need for all leaders to work actively to generate public confidence, and a shared sense of national unity and purpose, in Nepal's peace process.

It said that the spirit of cooperation that is required to advance the peace process needs to be invigorated and numerous agreements between the Government and other parties or groups have yet to be implemented.

'Continuing political challenges such as the controversial decisions taken by the UCPN-M-led Government and the Nepal Army related to army personnel, and frequent acrimony among senior political leaders, have strained relations, contributing to an atmosphere of mistrust which may hinder all parties from moving forward on integration and rehabilitation modalities,' the report added. It also noted that the challenges of addressing the demands of numerous identity-based groups in the forthcoming constitution and the debate in the coming months over federalism will require consistent and positive engagement by senior leaders across the political spectrum.