United Nations Security Council Resolution on Nepal

For the record: The following is the full text of the United Nations Security Council resolution, adopted on Tuesday authorizing establishment of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN).

The Security Council,

*Welcoming the signing on 21 November by the Government of Nepal and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) of a Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and the stated commitment of both parties to transforming the existing ceasefire into a permanent and sustainable peace and commending the steps taken to date to implement the Agreement,

*Taking note of the request of the parties for United Nations assistance in implementing key aspects of the Agreement, in particular monitoring of arrangements relating to the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides and election monitoring,

*Recalling the letter of the Secretary-General of 22 November 2006 (S/2006/920) and the statement of its President of 1 December (S/PRST/2006/49), and welcoming progress made in dispatching an advance deployment of monitors and electoral personnel to Nepal,

*Recognizing the strong desire of the Nepalese people for peace and the restoration of democracy and the importance in this respect of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and encouraging the parties to maintain that momentum,

*Recognizing the need to pay special attention to the needs of women, children and traditionally marginalized groups in the peace process, as mentioned in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,

*Welcoming the Secretary-General’s report of 9 January 2007 (S/2007/7) and having considered its recommendations, which are based on the request of the signatories of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and the findings of the technical assessment mission,

*Expressing its readiness to support the peace process in Nepal in the timely and effective implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,

*Reaffirming the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Nepal and its ownership of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement,

UN Political Mission in Nepal
Kathmandu: The Security Council Tuesday (23 Jan) established a United Nations political mission in Nepal to oversee the peace process in the country, following an historic agreement reached last November by the CPN-Maoist and government aimed at ending 10 years of bloody civil war. By a unanimously adopted resolution, the Council decided that the UN political mission in Nepal (UNMIN), to be headed by a Special Representative of the Secretary-General, will have 12-month mandate which could be terminated or extended depending on a request from the government, according to the UN news center.

The Council also took note of the Secretary-General’s expectation that the operation “will be a focused mission of limited duration.” The resolution outlined main tasks for the mission, which will manage arms and armed personnel from both the government and the Maoists, in line with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, and support this year’s planned Constituent Assembly elections. As part of its work, the UNMIN will “provide technical support for the planning, preparation and conduct of the election of a Constituent Assembly in a free and fair atmosphere, in consultation with the parties” and “provide a small team of electoral monitors to review all technical aspects of the electoral process, and report on the conduct of the election.”

*Expressing appreciation for the efforts of the Secretary-General and his Personal Representative, the United Nations Country Team including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights and other United Nations representatives in Nepal,

1. Decides to establish a United Nations political mission in Nepal (UNMIN) under the leadership of a Special Representative of the Secretary-General and with the following mandate based on the recommendations of the Secretary-General in his report:

(a) To monitor the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides, in line with the provisions of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement;

(b) To assist the parties through a Joint Monitoring Coordinating Committee in implementing their agreement on the management of arms and armed personnel of both sides, as provided for in that agreement;

(c) To assist in the monitoring of the ceasefire arrangements;

(d) To provide technical support for the planning, preparation and conduct of the election of a Constituent Assembly in a free and fair atmosphere, in consultation with the parties;

(e) To provide a small team of electoral monitors to review all technical aspects of the electoral process, and report on the conduct of the election;

2. Decides that the mandate of UNMIN, in view of the particular circumstances, will be for a period of 12 months from the date of this resolution, and expresses its intention to terminate or further extend that mandate upon request of the Government of Nepal, taking into consideration the Secretary-General’s expectation that UNMIN will be a focussed mission of limited duration;

3. Welcomes the Secretary-General’s proposal that his Special Representative will coordinate the United Nations effort in Nepal in support of the peace process, in close consultation with the relevant parties in Nepal and in close cooperation with other international actors;

4. Requests the Secretary-General to keep the Council regularly informed of progress in implementing this resolution;

5. Requests 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;

6. Decides to remain seized of the matter.