UCPN (Maoist) chairman and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal met Ban Ki-moon, the Secretary General of the United Nations today, at the UN headquarters in New York Tuesday, discussing the possibility of developing Lumbini as an international Buddhist hub and the UN’s support for Nepal’s peace process and political transition.
UCPN (Maoist) chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal meets United Nations Secretary…

During the meeting, Dahal briefed the UN Secretary General about the commitment of the Government of Nepal to develop Lumbini as a world peace city, Nepal’s Permanent Mission to the UN said.

Dahal explained that the recent formation of the high level national steering committee under his chairmanship reflected strong and long term commitment of the Nepal government to the preservation and development of all aspects of Greater Lumbini with a multi stakeholder approach through national and international support.

He expressed his belief that this would transform Lumbini into a “world class attraction for all the peace lovers from around the world” and also contribute to conveying the message of peace and compassion from Lumbini. “This message and spiritual dimension of Lumbini for world peace fits in very well with the noble ideals of peace and justice of the United Nations,” he said.

Lumbini would be developed as an enduring source of international peace, harmony and understanding, Dahal further said.

According to the Permanent Mission, the Maoist chairman also explained that Nepal will play its part in revitalising the International Committee for the Development of Lumbini and called for the involvement, full support and cooperation of the UN Secretary General to help galvanise the international community.

Dahal also informed Ban about the plan of the High Level Steering Committee to host a multistakeholder international meeting in Lumbini itself early next year and subsequent meeting to follow-up in New York next year. Various leaders from all fields, political, spiritual, and philanthropic and the private sector will be invited to the international meeting.

In response, the UN Secretary General asserted his commitment to provide full support for Greater Lumbini development and expressed satisfaction to see Nepali leadership and ownership for this purpose. “He also reiterated his political and moral support for the conservation and development of Greater Lumbini area.

Ban also accepted Dahal’s invitation for the international meeting in Lumbini early next year and agreed to play a lead role in support of Nepal’s initiative, a statement issued by the Permanent Mission said.

The meeting between Maoist chairman Dahal and the UN Secretary General also dwelled on Nepal’s peace process and constitution-drafting.

Dahal said the recent “landmark agreement” between the parties would help forward the peace process in Nepal with a view to move onto the next phase and expressed his commitment to writing a new constitution at the earliest and complete the transition process in Nepal with the support and cooperation of all political parties.

The Secretary General also expressed his appreciation to him and other political parties for the recent steps and urged them to effectively implement it and move forward to complete the peace process and the writing of the new constitution at the earliest.

Minenedra Rijal former minister and member of the steering committee, Gyan Chandra Acharya, Permanent Representative of Nepal to UN, steering committee member Manoj Bahadur Shrestha and Noritada Morita, international advisor of the Lumbini Development Trust and other officials were also present in the meeting. nepalnews.com