Personal Representative of UN Secretary General in Nepal Ian Martin has said that United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) can make required budgetary arrangement even without waiting final approval of UN Security Council (UNSC).
Addressing a press conference at UN’s Nepal office on Friday, Martin said that the resolution of UNSC opened the door to a full budget for mission though UNSC has not finally approved it.
“We do not have to wait for final approval before proceeding to recruit additional personnel and bring the required logistical support upon the 9.3 million US dollar already authorized” Martin added.
He also informed that two large aircraft landed on Wednesday bringing communications and engineering equipments, together with the first two helicopters stating that further flight is expected on Saturday.
Informing that the weapons registration process has resumed in the cantonment sites from Friday that was halted due to the technical issue about how to the weapons were being recorded. He clarified that the issue was resolved through the discussion with Maoist chairman Prachanda and leader Dr. Baburam Bhattarai on Friday morning.
Asked when UNMIN would complete the arms storage, Martin, without presenting an exact date, said he was unable to predict the time; however it would not so much depend on the UN as on the speed with which personnel would be presented in his team.
Martin also said that the number of UN monitors would continue to extend progressively until they reach their full contingent of 186 monitors. At present 40 UN monitors are present in Nepal.
In reference to the unrest Eastern Terai is facing, Representative Martin urged all parties to avoid violence and promote tolerance. “The role of my office is to support a free and fair constituent Assembly process and the efforts we are supporting to make this possible on the agreed schedule can only jeopardized if the situation in the Terai continues or escalates” he said.
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