KATHMANDU, Nov 22: The United Nations Regional Center for Peace and Disarmament (UNRCPD) in Asia and the Pacific is set to resume its operations from its headquarters in Kathmandu following the relocation of its office after the devastating earthquakes that hit Nepal in 2015.

Foreign Minister of Nepal Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat and the United Nations High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, Under-secretary General KIM Won-Soo, unveiled a plaque to commemorate the resumption of operations from the new location in Kathmandu, according to a press statement issued by UNRCPD Asia Pacific Office.

The statement said the centre has strengthened its capacity to implement regional activities in support to member states of Asia and the Pacific on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation, according to the practical needs of the states. The centre will further strengthen its promotion of regional dialogue and confidence-building peace and security issues.

According the statement, the resumption of the operation also marked the beginning of “Kathmandu Process”, which is a dialogue among states in Asia and the Pacific on disarmament, arms control and non-proliferation issues. The first event of this process is a high-level roundtable on the implementation of Security Council Resolution 1540 (2004). 

This roundtable, organized by the regional centre in partnership with the government of Nepal and the committee established pursuant to Security Council Resolution 1540, will discuss the 2016 Comprehensive Review on the status of the implementation of the resolution, the role of regional cooperation, and synergies between the resolution and other disarmament and non-proliferation instruments, such as the Biological Weapons Convention.

 
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• resumes operation