Nepal will inform international community about peace process, constitution: Minister Pandey

KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Bahadur Pandey said that Nepal will inform the international community about the recent political achievements, including the promulgation of the constitution and logical conclusion of the peace process.

He expressed this while talking to RSS in the context of Nepal’s participation in the 70th General Assembly of the United Nations to be held from September 28 to October 5 in New York, USA.

Nepal's participation in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) would be important for the fact that the UNGA is being held on the 70th anniversary of the UN and 60 years of Nepal’s ascension to the world body.

Minister Pandey said that this opportunity of participating in the UN general assembly would be more significant as Nepal has entered into the phase of a new era after the promulgation of the new constitution and it would lead the nation towards the path of peace and prosperity. Nepal would raise the issues of its partnership with UN in the peace keeping mission among others.

Minister Pandey added that Nepal would continue highlighting the issues of climate change, terrorism and challenges of developing and land-locked countries as it has been raising these issues in international forums.

The Minister for Foreign Affairs informed that Nepal was committed to eradicate the terrorist activities as they were against the human civilisation.

Minister Pandey said that Nepal is expecting to garner foreign supports for reconstruction and new construction projects after the devastating April 25 Gorkha Earthquake.

Minister Pandey informed that Nepal would take part in the high-level peace conference scheduled to be held from September 25-27 on the sideline of the General Assembly, comprising heads of state and governments of the troops contributing countries in the UN peacekeeping missions in conflict-hit countries.

Nepal stands in the sixth position in terms of the number of troops contributed to UN peacekeeping missions. Since 1956, Nepal has deployed more than 100,000 troops to the peacekeeping missions.

Similarly, Minister Pandey said that they would take up the issue of Nepal's participation in policy-formulation and implementation in the UN as Nepal has contributed much in building peace in the UN.

He added that preparations are underway to arrange meetings of PM Koirala with heads of neighbouring countries on the sidelines of the General Assembly.

Shankar Das Bairagi, acting secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that after the assembly, PM Koirala would hold formal meeting with UN General Secretary Ban Ki-Moon on October 2.

An 18-member delegation led by Prime Minister Sushil Koirala will leave for New York to take part in the General Assembly on Wednesday.

It has been learned that PM Koirala is scheduled to address the assembly on October 1. The heads of nations and governments of member countries are also expected to address the assembly.

Before addressing the assembly, PM Koirala is scheduled to participate in the UN Summit to be held from September 25-27, which would declare and approve the sustainable development goals.

Similarly, PM Koirala will be attending a high-level round table discussion on 'South Cooperation under the framework of the post-2015' programme to be organised by the UN Secretary General Moon and Chinese President Xi Jingping on September 26 in New York.

PM Koirala is also scheduled to participate in a meeting regarding General Equality and Women Empowerment Commitment to Action to be held by Chinese President Jinping and the UN Women.

A total of 192 countries in the world are members of the UN while two countries—Holy See Vatican City and Palestine State are the observer nations.

Nepal held membership of the UN on December 14, 1955.

The UN has completed its 70 years of establishment this year while Nepal is celebrating 60th anniversary association with the global body.