PM urges UN to increase Nepali quota for high-level posts in UN missions

Kathmandu / Sept. 24: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has made an official request with the United Nations to increase the Nepali participation in higher ranks of UN peacekeeping operations based on the number of Nepal Army deployed in the UN missions.

PM made such request during his visit with the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres in New York on Sunday.

In response, Secretary General Guterres said that he will consider Nepal’s request with utmost priority.

PM’s aide Dinesh Bhattarai said that Secretary General Guterres hailed Nepal’s contribution in world peace by sending its troops to the UN operations.

The Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations (UN) in New York said that since PM Deuba has formally placed the request there is high chances that the issue will be addressed.

More than 5,000 Nepali security personnel are deployed in various UN peacekeeping missions across the world. Since 1958, Nepal has deployed close to 100,000 Nepali peacekeepers in 46 different peace operations carried out by the UN.

Initially, Nepal sent only Army personnel to peacekeeping operations. Now Nepal Police and Armed Police Force also send their battalions to assist the global body in keeping order in troubled countries.

It is learnt the duo also discussed about the latest political affairs and status of development in Nepal. Talks were also held on Nepal’s measure to mitigate damages caused by 2015 earthquake and recent floods and international assistance Nepal has obtained in that end.

PM Deuba is in USA to attend the 72nd session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).