KATHMANDU:

Secretary General of UN Kofi Annan has decided to appoint the head of the OHCHR in Nepal, Ian Martin, as his personal representative in Nepal to support to the peace process here. The recent mission to the country will conduct intensive discussions with the key actors in Nepal. Martin will begin his assignment immediately, and will be joined by a small multi-disciplinary team that will assist him in advising the parties. “Secretary-General is firmly committed to support the peace process in Nepal and was thus encouraged to receive identical letters earlier this month from the government of Nepal and the Maoist requesting help from the UN,” it said.