UNMIN not leaning towards any party, says Martin

Kathmandu, Oct 17 : United Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) Chief, Ian Martinas said that the UN body is not inclined towards any party while the peace process is underway.

His remakes came at a time when Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Korala had commented that the People Liberation Army (PLA) could not be integrated with the Nepal Army (NA) as Martin rejected the idea of sending the PLA in UN's peace keeping operations.

Speaking at a press meet here on Thursday, Martin said the UN mission always sought to play an impartial role and was committed to work fairly in the peace process.

Martin said he had been emphasising that the parties to the conflict must fulfill the commitments they made regarding the fate of those disappeared, internally displaced people and ending impunity.

He also said that the UN could not take the Maoist's PLA in the UN peacekeeping missions as they have not been recognised as state's army.

He also said the UN was ready to share its experiences on army integration and rehabilitation to the special committee to be formed soon if the committee sought the UN's assistance in this regard.

Martin also informed that UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon would visit Nepal during his visit to the asian region due to start from October 29.

United Nations mission, the special political mission to support the peace process in Nepal, was established on January 23 2007, Nepal news reported.

ANI