-Sharachchandra Bhandary
Kathmandu, June 2 : The Government of Nepal has reiterated its commitments to active roles of both South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC). It has also stated that one could never be a substitute for another with regards to the two regional organisations, and it does not have any change of mind in this regard, said a diplomat of Nepal.
Nepal is sitting chair of SAARC. The Nepal Government’s view about the issue comes at a time when criticisms have been making the rounds that Prime Minister of India Narendra Damodardas Modi tried to tilt India’s support to BIMSTEC, and make SAARC weak by inviting executive heads of BIMSTEC member countries and other countries in his swearing in ceremony recently as Prime Minister for second term.
It may be noted that PM Modi adopted ‘Look East’ and ‘Neighbourhood First’ policy by inviting head of the state and government of all SAARC countries in his oath taking ceremony for his first term as India’s PM five years ago. “Nepal’s official view about it has been made public by right honourable Prime Minister.
There is no change in the country’s commitments to regional assistance. No question arises in activating one and deactivating another. Nepal, SAARC’s founder and its sitting chair, is committed to making SAARC dynamic,” said Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali talking to media-persons here on Sunday. Nepal is rest assured of having supports from all quarters to organise the long affected SAARC Summit soon and make the dying out SAARC dynamic, he said. Minister Gyawali said that the report of Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG), prepared by the eminent persons of Nepal and India incorporating all aspects of relations between the two countries would be submitted to prime minister of both Nepal and India at an appropriate time.
The Foreign Minister further said that Nepal was eager to organise a meeting of the Nepal-India Joint Commission as soon as possible. He added that the Foreign Ministry has already invited Minister for External Affairs of India, S Jayshankar to participate in the meeting. The Commission was established in 1987 at foreign minister-level to hold consultations and review on all the issues related to Nepal-India collaboration and partnership. Nepal has not been associated with any armed alliance and has adopted a policy to stay away from involvement in such alliance.
Minister Gyawali said that the government has been playing a role of facilitator for different diplomatic missions in Kathmandu in constructing embassy buildings, adding that permission has already been granted to World Food Programme to construct its building. The Foreign Minister said that a delegation led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli would review the 203-year relations between Nepal and the United Kingdom, the assistance being provided to socio-economic and political sectors, further partnership plans during his upcoming official visit to the UK. A bilateral discussion would also be held on various issues of Ex-Gurkha Army including pension and other facilities, added the Foreign Minister.
The MoFA is going to organise National Dialogue on Foreign Policy on June 29 in the capital to hold discussions on Nepal’s foreign policy in line with the constitutional spirit.
PM Oli to visit three European countries
Prime Minister KP SharmaOli is scheduled to visit three European countries from June 8 to 15. On the occasion, PM Oli will attend a special session of ILO on the occasion of its 100th anniversary in Geneva of Switzerland on June 10. He will further hold sidelines meetings there.
After that, PM Oli is scheduled to make an official visit of United Kingdom from June 10 to 12. PM Oli will also address a special programme to be organised at Oxford University on June 10. Similarly, Prime Minister Oli will hold talks with Prime Minister of the UK, Theresa May on June 11. Likewise, Prime Minister Oli is slated to make an official visit to France from June 12 to 14. During the stay in France, he will hold talks with his counterpart Edouard Philippe on June 12, according to an official at the MoFA. RSS
