Notably, the Council has also said the UN can´t maintain the ongoing monitoring arrangements "indefinitely", urging the government to create conditions conducive to completion of UNMIN’s activities by the end of the fresh mandate, according to a statement posted in the website of the Security Council. [break]
Unanimously adopting resolution 1864 (2009), the 6074th meeting of the Council also endorsed the United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s recommendations for a phased, gradual drawdown and withdrawal of UNMIN staff, agreeing with him that the current monitoring arrangements could not be maintained indefinitely.
This is the third time the UNMIN mandate has been extended since it was created in January 2007, initially for one year.
The Council has also requested UN Secretary-General to submit a report on progress towards the resolution’s implementation no later than 30 April, with a view to further downsizing of UNMIN.
The Council considered Nepal’s request on 16 January, when it heard a briefing by the Secretary-General’s Special Representative Ian Martin, as well as a statement by Nepal´s Ambassador to UN Madhu Raman Acharya.
With the end of the current mandate, UNMIN chief Ian Martin, who remained in the position since UNMIN´s inception, is no longer with it. UN sources said Secretary-General Ban is preparing to announce appointment of Karin Landgren, a Swedish national who deputy head of UNMIN until Friday, as his Representative and UNMIN head shortly.
The Council has also requested the parties in Nepal to take the necessary steps to promote the safety, security and freedom of movement of UNMIN and associated personnel in executing the tasks defined in the mandate.
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