His excellency Chairman of the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of
Political Parties,
Honorable heads of governments and ministers,
Esteemed leaders, excellencies, distinguished guests,
And friends from around the world,
I would like to thank ICAPP for inviting me to speak on behalf of the CPN (UML) including our
party president and Right Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal KP Sharma Oli. Today, we gather
to pursue peace and reconciliation. A quest that requires all our courage, vision, and unity.
As I look around this room, I see leaders who represent the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of
Asia and Oceania. You are the voices of those who have known struggle, the voices of those
who believe in progress, and, above all, the voices of those who seek peace. And it is together,
as this powerful community, that we have an extraordinary opportunity to build a legacy of peace
that can transform not only our region but the entire world.
So, I ask each of you to consider: What does peace look like for the people you represent? In
my country, Nepal, peace is more than the absence of conflict. It is the presence of opportunity,
the assurance of dignity, and the promise of prosperity. In Nepal, we are seeing promising steps
towards peace and reconciliation under the leadership of Right Honorable Prime minister KP
Sharma Oli. Recently, our parliament unanimously endorsed a bill to amend the Truth
and Reconciliation Commission Act. This is an important commitment to move forward and
create a process that balances truth and justice.
The journey to peace is not easy. Across Asia, our people have felt the sting of division, and the
scars of history remind us of the cost of disunity. Yet history has also shown us that we are
resilient people – people who do not give up in the face of hardship, people who rebuild, who
reconcile, and who move forward with strength.
And this is why the ICAPP matters. This gathering of leaders across borders and beliefs is a
testament to what we can achieve when we choose dialogue over discord. ICAPP brings
together over 350 political parties, each with its own unique perspective, but all united by a
shared commitment to progress, peace, and prosperity.
Our strength lies in our diversity, and our unity lies in our shared vision. This assembly, and the
ICAPP as a whole, allows us to look beyond our borders, beyond our political colors, and to see
ourselves as one community working for a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Asia.
Let us look beyond what divides us, to find common ground, and to build bridges where none
existed before. Let us create initiatives, foster dialogue, and encourage cooperation within our
regions. Let us show the world that Asia is a continent of vision, resilience, and peace.
Thank you.
- This is the speech delivered by Raghubir Mahaseth, Chief of Department of Foreign Affairs, CPN-UML at the 12th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties
(ICAPP) held in Cambodia.