Type: Parliament Questions and Answers

Will the Minister of EXTERNAL AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a) whether India’s Foreign Secretary visited Nepal in January 2011 to take up bilateral issues with Kathmandu and assess the halted peace process;
(b) if so, the details of the issues discussed and the outcome thereof;
(c) the details of latest assessment of the situation; and
(d) the extent to which the relations between the two countries have further strengthened as a result thereof?

ANSWER THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS (SMT. PRENEET KAUR)

(a) to (d) Foreign Secretary paid an official visit to Nepal from January 18-20, 2011, during which she called on the President of Nepal, the Prime Minister of Nepal, Speaker of the Constituent Assembly, Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister & Minister of Physical Planning & Works and the Foreign Secretary of Nepal. The focus of the meetings was to strengthen the relations between the two countries. The Indian delegation held delegation-level talks with the Nepalese side. The text of the Press Release, spelling out the details of the discussion and incorporating the outcome of the visit is enclosed as an ANNEXURE.

Official Visit of Foreign Secretary Smt. Nirupama Rao to Nepal

January 20, 2011

The Foreign Secretary of India, Smt. Nirupama Rao paid an official visit to Kathmandu from January 18-20, 2011.

2. During the visit, the Foreign Secretary called on the President Rt. Hon’ble Dr. Ram Baran Yadav and Prime Minister Rt. Hon’ble Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal. She also called on Chairman of Constituent Assembly and Speaker, Legislature-Parliament, Rt. Hon’ble Subas C. Nembang, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Physical Planning and Works, H.E. Mr. Bijay Kumar Gachhadar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, H.E. Ms. Sujata Koirala and Minister for Energy H.E. Mr. Prakash Saran Mahat. These meetings were focused on the bilateral relations between India and Nepal and measures to further expand and strengthen the close and multi-faceted ties that exist between the two countries. President Rt. Hon’ble Dr. Ram Baran Yadav stated that he was looking forward to his forthcoming official visit to India and his meetings with the Indian political leadership. The Foreign Secretary conveyed greetings of the President of India and said that a warm welcome awaits him in India.
3. The Foreign Secretary conveyed to the Prime Minister Rt. Hon’ble Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal the best wishes of the Prime Minister of India. She apprised the Prime Minister of the progress made so far and also conveyed India’s commitment to fulfilling the agreements which had been arrived at during his visit to India in August 2009 and expressed the hope that the two Governments will further intensify their cooperation in this regard.

4. The Foreign Secretary met with Nepalese leaders from across the political spectrum including the former Prime Ministers Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa (RJP), Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba (Nepali Congress), Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ (UCPN -Maoist), Chairman of CPN (UML), Mr. Jhala Nath Khanal and President of Nepali Congress, Mr. Sushil Koirala as well as leaders representing other political parties of Nepal including the leaders of the Madhesi parties. In their discussions with her, the political leaders of Nepal stressed the importance they attached to close relations between Nepal and India. She stressed to all the leaders that India stands for a democratic, stable, peaceful and prosperous Nepal. She also assured them of India’s support to the Constitution drafting process while strengthening inclusive multi-party democracy in Nepal and also for successfully concluding the Nepali led peace process.
5. In her meeting with her counterpart, H E Mr. Madan Kumar Bhattarai, Foreign Secretary of Nepal, there were useful discussions on issues of mutual interest covering the entire gamut of Indian-Nepal relations. The Foreign Secretary of India urged early convening of meetings of various institutional mechanisms and emphasised the speedy implementation of projects being executed in Nepal with Government of India assistance. The Foreign Secretary of Nepal assured that Government of Nepal shall do its utmost to expedite the work of established mechanisms and other initiatives in order to further strengthen and deepen the bilateral relations.

6. The meetings were held in an atmosphere of warmth and friendship reflecting the traditionally close relations between India and Nepal.

7. The Foreign Secretary of Nepal accepted the invitation by the Foreign Secretary of India to visit India at an early date.

(As Issued by Embassy of India, Kathmandu)

Kathmandu
January 20, 2011
http://www.mea.gov.in/mystart.php?id=220217931

Nepal
South Asia