Nepal’s formal relationship with the United Nations started after its admission as a member-state in mid-December 1955. This event brought Nepal into the limelight in the international community. By declaration and behaviour, Nepal has, since then, reposed its unflinching faith in and adherence to the noble principles and objectives of the UN Charter. At various calls of the Security Council, Nepal has, since 1958, dispatched peacekeeping forces and indeed earned a good reputation as a reliable contributor to establish security in the troubled parts of the world.

However, ironically, Nepal has visibly failed to maintain peace at home for more than a decade with the gross inability and inefficiency of the political leadership to give good governance to the people. An exemplary contributor to the security efforts abroad, Nepal has, however, foundered and fumbled to show similar capability at home. At the call of the then ruling seven parties and the Maoists, the United Nations Mission in Nepal came here more than two years ago to facilitate the peace process. However, its efforts have gone not as hoped for. Today, the mission looks more like a commentator than a guiding body that can influence the course of actions of the two protagonists — the Maoist security chief and the Nepal Army chief, who have moved in managing their security personnel and affairs on their own. The current scramble indicates the visible existence of the two separate security organizations in a single country. The authorities concerned with the Nepali affairs in the UN must see to this situation of growing discontent with vision and action to bring both sides to a reciprocally agreed formula lest the situation grows from bad to worse. Efforts supported by the UN must come before the problem goes beyond the reach of trustworthy authority.

Today, the Nepali common folks are having the bitter experience of the absence of acceptable governance on the one hand, and too much politics and political wrangling are costing the much desired socio-economic development process on the other. Very sadly, Nepal now stands at the lowest strata of the economic situation in the whole of Asia.

The democratization process and its institution building are not moving in the proper way, nor is social harmony going on the right track. The country is certainly paying the high cost of the political turmoil and social unrest. No convincing political mantra is on hand to steer the country to its desired destiny. The UNDP with the presence of 22 agencies in Nepal is trying

to promote socio-economic activities with intent to achieve the MDGs by 2015. But to the chagrin of conscious people, the contributory functions of the UN remain inadequate to meet the fast rising needs of the country in transition with increased demands of the people for an improved standard of living.

Surprisingly, the UN cannot be blamed, for it cannot come along to help the conflict-hit country with adequate funds. Its contributions are limited because of its high dependence on the monetary contributions of the rich countries. In fact,

it is in limbo as it has not been able to create resources of its own. Unless the mighty countries and their entrenched interests permit the UN, it cannot go far beyond its limitations put by its regulations, management system and capability.

People with good knowledge of the UN system cannot remain without agreeing with the observation of Nader Mousavizadeh, a highly experienced former UN political officer. He points out the defective sides of the UN and says “its structures are too ossified; its practices too compromised; its potential too limited”. The comment explicitly indicates the UN needs immediate reforms with forward looking vision to prepare itself to meet the growing security and development needs of the emerging countries like Nepal that have been hit hard by the internal conflict.

People understand that the UN has achieved the unique characteristic of universality today — the most outstanding achievement ever made by it. Admittedly, some hopeful signs are on the rise. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recently gone ahead in endorsing the collecting of the much needed funds for the developmental activities of the United Nations from rich entrepreneurs, philanthropists, celebrities, models, singers, etc. who are willing to help the UN in its efforts to help the poor countries develop their societies that will help to establish peace and prevent terrorism brewing in the poverty-plagued countries. This positive effort, if successful, would go a long way towards making the contributions of the UN meaningful and measurable. Nepal as a country just emerging out of the dreaded conflict should look at this positive development with optimism. The transformed world today sees this global organization as an international forum for positive diplomacy and fruitful dialogue for any knotty problems to solve.

Shrestha is ex-foreign ministry official