National Ownership Key to Legitimate and Sustainable Peace: Minister Khanal

Minister for Foreign Affairs, Shisir Khanal, said national ownership, inclusive state institutions and accountable governance are indispensable for sustainable peacebuilding. In his address to the ministerial-level meeting of the Peace-Building Commission (PBC) held at the New York based United Nations Headquarters during the 81st Session of the UNGA on Thursday, he presented the national ownership as the base of building trustworthy, legitimate and sustainable peace.

“National ownership is essential for credible, legitimate, and sustainable peacebuilding. When society builds and leads its own peace process, reconciliation takes deep root,” he said.

Presenting Nepal’s peace process as an example of peacebuilding based on national ownership, Minister Khanal highlighted that the Comprehensive Peace Accord signed two decades ago in 2006 transformed the decade-long armed conflict through a homegrown and nationally owned peace process.

He shared that the inclusive federal democratic Constitution was promulgated through the process. The CPA was signed in 2006 between the then government and the CPN (Maoist), which included arms management and election support under United Nations assistance. Minister Khanal explained that peace building is not a process that ends at a certain point but is a social contract that continues for generations.

Highlighting that the new generation, who have not experienced conflict and are organized through digital means, demand transparent governance, merit-based systems, and accountable institutions, he emphasized that state institutions need to be made more responsible and adaptable according to the expectations of the new generation.

He claimed that democratic institutions had shown flexibility and tolerance during Gen Z movement occurred on September 8, 2025 in Nepal. People’s aspiration was addressed through dialogue and power was handed over to the elected government by holding parliamentary election peacefully within six months, opined the Foreign Minister.

Minister Khanal further said inclusive representation and local ownership should be strengthened, reliable institution ensuring transitional justice, human rights and rule of law should be continuously strengthened and support related to international peace building should be in accordance with national priorities.

Underlining that the support of the United Nations for Nepal’s peace process is focused on strengthening national capacity, Foreign Minister Khanal argued that international cooperation aligned with national priorities and capacities would be effective. Indicating towards Nepal’s philosophical concept of peace, the Foreign Minister stated that peace is the concept connected to balance and harmony between human, nature, earth and entire universe, not merely the absence of war.

Foreign Minister Khanal emphasized that Peace Building Commission should promote a comprehensive approach for resolving difference through dialogue—guided by national ownership, and advancing a shared journey through international solidarity. (RSS)