UNSC to endorse secretary-general's proposal this week; Martin

Kathmandu, Jan 16 (UNI) UN Secretary-General's representative to Nepal Ian Martin today returned to Kathmandu after consultation with top UN officials in New York.

On his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, Mr Martin told Kantipur that the UN Security Council was set to endorse the proposal presented by Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon within a week.

He added the UNSC was seriously taking up the proposal on assistance to Nepal's peace process.

In New York, Mr Martin briefed the top UN official on Nepal's peace process and the works of the UN missions deployed for monitoring of the arms and armies.

In a report to the UNSC last week, the UN Secretary-General called for establishment of a UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for a period of 12 months, covering the aftermath of elections for an assembly as per the suggestions made by the UN technical assessment mission, which arrived here in mid-December to plan for a full-fledged UN mission.

He recommended that the mission comprises up to 186 unarmed former and active military officers to monitor the Maoist cantonments and Nepal Army barracks, together with deployment of a small team of monitors to review all technical aspects of the electoral process and a small UN police advisory team to help ensure 'critical' security during voter registration, campaigning and polling.

UNI