Team leader of UN mission to Nepal, Staffan de Mistura

Team leader of UN mission to Nepal, Staffan de Mistura
(File photo)
The United Nations Mission led by Staffan de Mistura met with officials of the Nepali Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of the CPN (Maoist) in western Nepal and discussed the issue of arms management on Wednesday.

Earlier in the day, Mistura’s team, which had arrived in Nepalgunj on Tuesday, visited with the Nepali Army at its midwestern regional headquarters in Surkhet, and then continued by helicopter to a temporary camp of the PLA in Salyan district, a statement issued by the UN Information Centre said.

“We were able to hear from both sides what are their own concerns and also to see with our own eyes what is the situation regarding the potential arms management. In other words, for us as a mission it was very useful,” Mistura told reporters upon his return to Kathmandu.

“It helps us to have a better eye also on what are the future possible activities that the UN can have,” he added.

Mistura further said he was “quite optimistic” regarding the Mission’s deliberations in Kathmandu aimed at forging consensus among all concerned sides on how the UN could play its role in Nepal’s peace process.

”I am optimistic and I continue being quite optimistic because I know there are a lot of discussions regarding a platform through which the UN could be asked to assist the peace process.”

The UN Mission is scheduled to leave Nepal on Thursday. According to the UN Information Centre, the team will hold a press conference at the Tribhuvan International Airport before its departure.

The UN Mission that is in Kathmandu since one week has already held discussions with a plethora of personalities including Prime Minister GP Koirala, ministers and the leaders of the seven-party alliance and the CPN (Maoist) on the upcoming role of world body in Nepal’s peace process.