Kathmandu, Sept 23: Foreign Minister Shisir Khanal has expressed commitment to continuing Nepal’s contribution to United Nations peacekeeping missions aimed at promoting global peace and security.
During a sideline meeting in New York with UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations, Jean-Pierre Lacroix, Minister Khanal, who is attending the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, expressed gratitude for the trust the United Nations has consistently shown toward Nepali peacekeepers.
He also said Nepal attaches great importance to its long-standing partnership with the United Nations and wishes to further strengthen this relationship built on mutual trust, respect, and cooperation in the days ahead. “Nepal stands ready to contribute up to 10,000 peacekeepers should the need arise and a request be made by the United Nations.”
“Nepal has consistently cooperated by extending the tenure of officers, deploying peacekeeping contingents via commercial flights, making necessary adjustments to logistics and equipment transport arrangements, and implementing other cost-reduction measures as requested by the United Nations,” he said and urged that Nepal’s sustained contributions, commitment, and cooperation in the field of peacekeeping be duly recognized in future deployment opportunities.
On the occasion, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Pierre Lacroix commended the role played by Nepal and its security personnel in global peacekeeping missions.
