KATHMANDU, Aug 19: Kofi Annan, the former secretary general of the United Nations who passed away on Saturday, is remembered in Nepal for his initiatives at resolving the Maoist conflict here, in his capacity as the head of the global body.
Former defense minister and Nepali Congress leader Mahesh Acharya, Nepal’s former ambassador to the UN Madhu Raman Acharya and former chief election commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel remembered Annan’s role at the UN to help end the Maoist armed insurgency in Nepal.
“The UN system started paying serious attention to Nepal’s conflict after his efforts and his initiative inspired the peace process,” said Nepali Congress leader Acharya.
Annan visited Nepal in March 2001 while the Maoist insurgency was rapidly escalating . He met King Birendra, then prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Acharya and then foreign minister Chakra Prasad Bastola, among others. “I don’t remember much about that visit but he insisted on a peaceful conclusion to the conflict and the strengthening of democracy in Nepal,” Acharya, who received Annan at the airport , told Republica.
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According to Acharya, Annan praised the outstanding performance of the Nepal Army in UN peacekeeping activities in the war-torn countries and diplomatically suggested settling the internal conflict in Nepal for expanding its mission in other countries in the world.
The Maoists had just started their insurgency when Annan was elected secretary general, and the conflict ended with the peace agreement in 2006, the last year of his second term at the helm of the UN.
Annan paid his visit to Nepal to draw international attention to the conflict here.
Former chief election commissioner Bhojraj Pokharel, who works with the Electronic Integrity Initiatives of the Kofi Annan Foundation, recalled that the former secretary general was very much concerned about the resolution of global crises including the Maoist conflict .
“He showed much concern about Nepal’s constitution drafting and peace process during a meeting I had with him and he used to say that a beautiful and resource-rich country like Nepal shouldn’t be in such trouble,” Pokharel told Republica.
Pokharel praised Annan as very humble and an amazing person. “He used to focus his attention on how he could contribute from his side to settling crises globally,” he said.
Annan had assigned special representatives and other senior UN officials for ending Nepal’s conflict. He also quietly drew the attention of the global community to the conflict, said Pokharel.
Former Nepali ambassador to the UN Madhu Raman Acharya also appreciated Annan’s initiatives toward resolving Nepal’s crisis. “He was very interested in peace keeping and took initiatives at top political levels for conflict resolution in Nepal,” he said.
