A constitution is supposed to be adopted by Nepal’s parliamentarians by 28 May as part of the peace process introduced after the civil war between Government forces and Maoists ended in 2007 and the monarchy was abolished.

The constitutional deadline has already been extended by a year and Mr. Ban warned today, in a statement issued by his spokesperson, that the wider peace process “remains overdue and incomplete due to continuing differences among the parties.”

He urged all parties “to exert the utmost effort in reaching consensus on outstanding issues, including the integration and rehabilitation of Maoist army personnel and fundamental issues regarding the new constitution.”

Mr. Ban stressed that the peace process was now at a “decisive point,” and he called on all sides to “exercise maximum flexibility in seeking a common political ground to enable them to fulfil their commitments.”