Kathmandu, September 19:

Danish Minister for Development Cooperation, Ulla Tørnæs today said that Denmark was keen to make a special contribution to support Nepal’s peace process. She is here in a four-day visit.

“I would underline and stress that the peace process has to be made by Nepalis themselves, but I am here to understand how we, (as a member of) the international community can support it,” Tørnæs told reporters after meeting UML Secretary General Madhav Kumar Nepal.

Immediately after she arrived here this afternoon she discussed with the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan’s personal representative, Ian Martin, and the Resident Coordinator of UNDP in Kathmandu, Matthew Kahane.

She said that the “main objective” of her visit was to understand better the current political situation here, and identify the areas where her country can provide even budgetary support to the peace process. Asked if she had been here also to evaluate the security situation, she confirmed that it was incorrect.

“We still don’t have a clear idea; it will be too early to say what kind of support we would like to make in the peace process of Nepal,” said Tørnæs, who was also the Danish Minister of Education before her appointment as Minister for Development. Upon her arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport she told reporters that she was here to back the peace process. She also held a meeting with representatives of the civil society this evening.