PRESS RELEASE
UN Under Secretary General for Peacekeeping Visits Nepal
Mr. Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, who is on a three-day visit of Nepal, paid a courtesy call on the Rt. Hon’ble Bidya Devi Bhandari, President, this afternoon. The Under-Secretary-General also paid a courtesy call on the Rt. Hon’ble K.P. Sharma Oli, Prime Minister, today. On each occasion, he briefed about the ongoing United Nations peace operations across the globe and conveyed the appreciation of the UN Secretary-General for the role Nepal has played.
Also today, the visiting UN delegation called on the Hon’ble Ishwor Pokharel, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence, the Hon’ble Ram Bahadur Thapa, Minister for Home Affairs, and the Hon’ble Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Minister for Foreign Affairs, at their respective offices. During the meetings matters relating to Nepal-UN cooperation for the maintenance of international peace and security and further strengthening it were discussed. On his meeting with the Hon’ble Foreign Minister, the Under-Secretary-General updated the Minister on the reform initiatives of the UN Secretary-General, and sought support of Member States in this regard.
He thanked the Government of Nepal for participating in UN peace operations with high standard of competence and discipline. The Hon’ble Minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Nepal for the cause of international peace and security. He expressed readiness of Nepal to work with the member states in support of reform initiatives that are in the interest of the global community, the countries in conflict and the troops and police contributing countries, in particular.
The two sides also discussed various issues relating to peacekeeping including the safety and security of the peacekeepers, enhancing female participation, addressing the issue of sexual exploitation and abuse, and to provide fair and equitable opportunities to the troop and police contributing countries (T/PCC) in leadership positions both at headquarters and in the field.
The four-member UN delegation, which arrived yesterday, held separate meetings with the Chief of the Army Staff, the Inspector-General of Nepal Police, and the Inspector-General of the Armed Police Force and exchanged views on various aspects of Nepal’s engagement in UN peacekeeping. While in Nepal, the delegation also visited the Birendra Peace Operations Training Center in Paanchkhal, and observed various training programmes being offered for national and international peacekeeping trainees.
The Hon’ble Foreign Minister hosted a dinner in honour of Mr. Lacroix and the members of his delegation in the evening today. This is the first visit of Nepal by Mr. Lacroix after his appointment as head of the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations in February 2018.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Singhdurbar, Kathmandu
27 June 2018