Here in New York, Nepal’s new prime minister, Prachanda, spoke on Friday night for the first time since successfully leading the decade-long Maoist rebellion against Nepal’s monarchy. Last month, Prachanda was overwhelmingly voted in as Nepal’s new premier by lawmakers in the country’s constitutional assembly. Earlier this year, Nepal’s national assembly voted to abolish the monarchy.

Prachanda: “This is a new beginning, which will give every man and woman the freedom and opportunity by creating social, economic and political justice and fairness to all. And the basis of all this development would be multi-party competition, democratic dispensation, inclusive state, rule of law, freedom of press and opinions, and the respect for fundamental human rights, above all. We will ensure a just, prosperous, stable and peaceful society.”