Speaker Ghimire, UN Secretary-General Guterres meet

Kathmandu, Oct 29: House of Representatives (HoR) Speaker Devraj Ghimire and visiting Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres held a meeting on Sunday.     

At the meeting held at the New Baneswor-based parliament building, Speaker Ghimire informed the Secretary-General of their commitment to bring the transitional justice process of Nepal to a logical end through the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons.     

Apprising him of serious discussions taking place in the parliament and parliamentary committee for the formulation of an Act relating to both the commissions, Speaker Ghimire expressed his hope that the Act would be formulated in the near future, informed Speaker's press advisor Shekhar Adhikari.     

Recalling that Nepal has successfully brought the home-grown peace process to a logical end with national ownership and leadership, the Speaker lauded the moderation of the United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) in completing the peace process.     

"Nepal's transitional justice process is directed by the Comprehensive Peace Accord reached between the government and then rebel side in 2006, Supreme Court directives, concerned international commitments, concerns of the conflict survivors and ground realities", Ghimire said.     

Nepal is the country of Lord Buddha and Nepali people are peace-loving, he briefed, adding the achievements Nepal gained in the peace process can be a model for other countries in the globe.     

Speaker Ghimire also informed Guterres that some specific efforts of Nepal can also be a reference for resolving conflicts and violence surfaced in different countries.     

"The COVID-19 as the global pandemic has been so far the most profound human challenge facing by us", Ghimire said, adding, "I owe my sincere gratitude to the UN and its agencies for extending their support and assistance in tackling difficult times, especially COVID-19".     

Nepal has accorded high priority on the issue of climate change, he said, adding Nepal as a low carbon emitting country has been disproportionally bearing negative impacts of climate change.     

Women and children have been mostly affected from the adverse effects of climate change, he while hailing the initiatives taken by Secretary-General Guterres for enhancing the effectiveness of UN systems.     

"The Parliament Regulation of Nepal has specified a provision that the Secretary-General of the United Nations shall address the parliament. Nepali people have taken your address with interest", Ghimire told Guterres.     

Also on the occasion, the UN Secretary-General has expressed the readiness of the global governing body to provide necessary support in bringing the transitional justice process of Nepal to conclusion.     

Likewise, Guterres also expressed his confidence that the transitional justice would help keep peace among the conflict survivors, their families and communities.(RSS)