The Swiss Special Adviser for peace building in Nepal, Gunther Baechler, on Sunday, said that the Swiss government will support Nepal during the peace and constitution building process.
The Swiss Special Adviser for peace building in Nepal, Gunther Baechler
The Swiss Special Adviser for peace building in Nepal, Gunther Baechler (File Photo)
He said, “The field of support will be in technical expertise with institutional support and financial help.”
He informed that Deputy Prime Minister KP Oli will meet the Swiss foreign minister, Micheline Calmy Rey, on Monday.
He further said the Swiss government can help Nepal enhance rural employment, build local infrastructure and develop skills of the ex-combatants. Baechler said the Swiss expertise in constitution-making and elections can be useful in Nepal’s peace process.
He also said his government would support the Peace Secretariat based on a concrete plan.
He also said that Switzerland will vote for Nepal in its bid to have a non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for next year, reciprocating Nepal’s backing of Switzerland for the UN Human Rights Council seat.
Stating that the eight-point peace pact between the government and the Maoists was a breakthrough in peace and constitution building process he said, “Individual leaders of both sides have shown a remarkable political will to settle the conflict peacefully, which indicates that the peace process is going to be successful.”
Warning that there always remains a risk of the breakdown of the peace processes, he said, “If there is a risk in Nepal, it is because of the lack of clear technical agreements about the sequencing of further steps; about the decommissioning of arms and the demobilization and reintegration of the armies.”
He suggested people here support the political leaders, but however are watching the process critically and expressing independent views.
The adviser, who said he has closely watched the entire development in Nepal, said Nepal’s situation was quite different from that of other conflict countries in Africa and Asia.
Comparing Nepal’s case with other conflict-hit countries, he said, “Parties to the conflict had to be forced to the talks table, to be guided through the process with help of a mediator. Not so in Nepal, where both sides came on their own, and that makes a huge difference.”
He further stressed a clear “verification” process, which eventually will lead to disarmament and demobilisation.
He also advised the government and the Maoists to establish mechanisms for dialogue, peace and reconciliation at the local level as well.