Coinciding with the promulgation of interim constitution and formation of interim parliament, the United Nations is to begin the registration and storage of arms and registration of Maoist combatants beginning early next week.

After the meeting of the Joint Monitoring Coordination Committee (JMCC) held this afternoon, the Office of the Personal Representative of the Secretary General issued a statement confirming that it will begin next week “the registration and storage of arms and the registration of Maoist army combatants at the cantonment sites under United Nations supervision.”

The JMCC meeting was held to “finalise arrangements.” There are currently 30 monitors in Nepal – with one team operating out of Nepalgunj and the other from Kathmandu. The full advance team of 35 monitors will be in country by early next week, the release adds.

“The registration process will have a number of components. At each main cantonment site, a facility will be established where UN monitors, those assisting with registration and the Interim Task Force (team of ex-Gurkhas) can carry out their duties. UN monitors will oversee the registration process. They will be assisted in this effort by seven registration teams organised by the United Nations Development Programme. The Interim Task Force will also be on hand during the registration, and their presence will allow for 24-hour monitoring of the arms storage containers under the single key arrangement,” the statement adds.

The UN has informed that the full advance contingent of 25 electoral experts will be on the ground this month.

Meanwhile in New York, Ian Martin, the Personal Representative of the Secretary-General in Nepal, said, “The peace process has reached yet another key juncture, and we look forward to continued progress on both of these fronts.”

Martin made his remarks after briefing the Security-Council on Thursday on the Secretary General’s new report in which he proposed a full-fledged UN political mission in support of the peace process in Nepal.

Following the closed-door discussions in the Council, Security Council President Ambassador Vitaly Churkin, Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation , told reporters that Council Members were satisfied with the “positive dynamics” in the peace process and were inclined to respond positively to Martin’s calls for rapid approval of the mission and generous international support to the peace process.

“The members of the Council supported the need for speedy deployment of the UN mission in Nepal on the basis of the recommendations of the Secretary-General and within the parameters outlined by the peace agreement. A draft resolution on the subject will be prepared and at a proper time considered by the Security Council,” Ambassador Churkin said.