Kathmandu, September 28 

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said Nepal was able to steer a uniquely successful, home-grown and nationally-led and -owned peace process through dialogue and deliberations and mutual respect and accommodation.

Expressing thanks to the United Nations and the international community that supported Nepal’s peace process, PM Oli said Nepal’s case was a testimony that dialogue triumphs the differences; and ballot triumphs the bullets.

“We believe that what Nepal has achieved in conflict transformation can be an inspiring success story for many people longing for peace in different parts of the world,” said the PM addressing the 73rd UN General Assembly. He also said that the ongoing transitional justice process in Nepal would not allow impunity in serious violations of human rights and humanitarian laws.

The PM also highlighted the political transformation Nepal has undergone — from peaceful transformation of an armed conflict, promulgation of the new constitution and successful three-tier elections leading to the formation of a stable government.

“Separation of power, checks and balances, the rule of law, independence of the judiciary, periodic elections, inclusive and proportional representation are the defining features of the constitution,” said the PM.

“Our vision is of a comprehensive democracy that empowers individuals not only politically, but also socially, economically and culturally.”

The PM also underscored that the federal, provincial and local elections last year brought 41 per cent of women into elected bodies. “Social justice remains at the centre of our polity,” he said.

In his address, PM Oli said the government would realise its vision for ‘Prosperous Nepal and Happy Nepalis’ with the right mix of prudent utilisation of natural resources and optimal mobilisation and management of human resources.

Stressing that Nepal’s foreign policy was guided by the idea of ‘amity with all and enmity with none’, he said Nepal believed that regional and global efforts complemented its national development efforts.

Stating that regional cooperation was Nepal’s foreign policy priority, PM Oli said Nepal was for a revitalised SAARC, having recently hosted the fourth Summit meeting of BIMSTEC.

As far as climate change is concerned, PM Oli said Nepal could not remain a bystander when snow-clad mountains were receding and glaciers were retreating, causing floods and inundation in the plains. “It is an unpleasant irony that we have been victim of the catastrophes that we did not contribute for its causality,” he said.

“The Paris Agreement must be implemented in its entirety and good faith.”On terrorism, the PM said Nepal strongly condemned all acts of terrorism and called for an early conclusion of a comprehensive convention against terrorism.

Reiterating Nepal’s commitment to the principles and purposes enshrined in the UN Charter, PM Oli underscored the centrality of the UN as the most legitimate multilateral forum to deliberate on the challenges that we all confront globally.