Govt seeks four more months for UNMIN

KATHMANDU, May 6:  The government has requested the United Nations Security Council to extend the term of the United Nations Mission in Nepal by four more months beyond May 15.



Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who was authorized to take a decision on UNMIN´s term, took the decision to this effect on Thursday, said the prime minister´s Foreign Affairs Advisor Rajan Bhattarai. [break]



Despite the ruling parties´ public stance that the mandate of UNMIN should be reviewed, the prime minister decided to continue the earlier mandate of the UN´s political mission in Nepal.



Under the current mandate, UNMIN has been monitoring the management of the arms and armies of Nepal Army and the Maoists army. The ruling parties had demanded that the Nepal Army be relieved from UNMIN´s supervision.



Established on January 23, 2007, UNMIN´s term has already been extended five times.



End deadlock by weekend: EU envoys



Meanwhile, six ambassadors of the European counties and a European Union delegation have urged the prime minister to negotiate a solution to the present political impasse and asked the government and the Maoists to refrain from making provocative statements and actions.



"The peace process is under strain, and all parties should avoid provocative statements and actions," said ambassador Gilles-Henry Garault, local presidency of the European Union, said in a statement.



The envoys of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the United Kingdom and the the European Union, as well as the ambassadors of Norway and Switzerland, had met the prime minister on Wednesday.



According to a statement issued by the EU Delegation to Nepal, the ambassadors expressed concern at violence caused by the Maoist strike.



"They urged the Prime Minister to negotiate a solution with the UCPN-M by the weekend," the statement said.



During the meeting with the prime minister, the envoys gave a written statement to the prime minister in which they had asked the prime minister to negotiate a solution by the weekend.



"Concerned that, unless a solution is negotiated by the weekend, patience could run out and clashes could increase. Any violence, from either side, will be met with strong condemnation by our government," the ambassadors said in the statement.



"You [the prime minister] and the Home Minister carry special responsibility for avoiding clashes," the statement said.

Related story

NC leader Koirala and then UNMIN Chief Ian Martin hold meeting