MOFA BULLETIN Current Affairs May-July 2016 Vol 1, Issue 1 Ministry of Foreign Affairs Policy, Planning, Development Diplomacy and Nepali Diaspora Division Singha Durbar, Kathmandu, Nepal Tel. 4200182-185, Fax: 4200061, 4200160 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.mofa.gov.np Inside this Issue Chief Patron: Hon. Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Foreign Affairs A. Bilateral Affairs B. Multilateral Affairs Patron: C. Regional Affairs Mr. Shanker Das Bairagi, Foreign Secretary D. New Ambassadors Proposed E. Presentation of Credentials Editorial Team F. Completion of Tenure Mr. Bharat Raj Paudyal, Joint Secretary G. Passport and Consular Activities Dr. Damaru Ballabha Paudel, Under Secretary H. Missions’ Activities Mr. Sagar Prasad Phuyal, Section Officer I. Miscellaneous A. Bilateral Affairs climate change. The ceremony was convened by the Secretary-General of the United Nations on 22 April 1. The Speaker Visits United Kingdom 2016 at the UN Headquarters in New York. A delegation of Nepali parliamentarians, led DPM Thapa had a meeting with John Kerry, by Rt. Hon. Onsari Gharti Magar, Speaker of the Secretary of State, in Washington DC at latter’s Legislature Parliament, visited the United Kingdom office on 26 April 2016. Matters of bilateral and from 17 - 23 April 2016. During the visit, the Rt. Hon. mutual interests were discussed during the meeting. Speaker held a meeting with the Speaker of House of Priorities of the Government of Nepal in the Commons, Rt. Hon. John Bercow MP. Similarly, the context of implementation of the constitution and delegation had meetings with several other British ongoing post-earthquake reconstruction drive were parliamentarians including Deputy Speaker, Chair highlighted. Renewal of high-level contact helped to of Women and Equalities Committee, and Chairman deepen the relationship between the two countries. of All Party Parliamentary Group on Nepal. 3. Swedish IDE Minister Visits Nepal The Nepali delegation exchanged views on various aspects of Nepal-UK relations in the The Swedish International Development context of the ongoing celebrations of bicentenary Cooperation Minister H. E. Isabella Lövin visited of Nepal-UK relations, implementation of the new Nepal from 25 - 27 April 2016. During her stay in constitution, post-earthquake reconstruction efforts, Kathmandu, the Swedish Minister met with the and development co-operation between the two Prime Minister, the Deputy Prime Minister and countries. The Nepali delegation included Chief Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Whip of NC Parliamentary Party Hon. Chinkaji and the Minister for Finance. She congratulated for Shrestha, Chief Whip of CPN-UML Hon. Bhanu promulgating the new constitution and expressed Bhakta Dhakal, Chief Whip of UCPN-Maoist Hon. Swedish commitment to help Nepal's post- Hit Raj Pandey, Chief Whip of RPPN Hon. Dil earthquake reconstruction works. Nath Giri, Secretary General and Secretary of the 4. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Parliament Secretariat. Foreign Affairs Visits UK 2. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Visits the USA Affairs Hon. Kamal Thapa visited the United The Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Kingdom from 26 – 28 April 2016. DPM Thapa had Foreign Affairs Hon. Kamal Thapa, visited the a meeting with Minister of State Rt. Hon. Hugo United States of America to participate in the high- Swire, during which the British Minister assured of level signing ceremony of the Paris Agreement on increased political and financial support to Nepal MOFA BULLETIN Current Affairs 2 in the new context after the promulgation of the Sharma Oli on 10 May 2016. constitution. He also met with Minister of State at the Department for International Development (DFID) Matters relating to the promulgation of the Rt. Hon. Desmond Swayne MP. Constitution and post-earthquake reconstruction and development and employment opportunities in DPM Thapa launched a special souvenir ‘Taste of UAE were discussed. Nepal UK’ directory and inaugurated ‘Taste of Nepal UK’ website on the occasion. The special souvenir Mentioning the promulgation of the Constitution was jointly published by the Embassy of Nepal and as a remarkable achievement the visiting Minister Nepal Caterers Association UK, as part of series congratulated the President and the Prime Minister of events to celebrate the 200 years of diplomatic for this success. relations between Nepal and the UK. Earlier, DPM Thapa and HH Abdullah had 5. Auditor General of Nepal Visits the USA and separate official talks. Canada 8. Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for At the invitation of Government Accountability Foreign Affairs Visits Israel Office of USA, Mr. Bhanu Prasad Acharya, the A Nepali delegation led by Deputy Prime Auditor General, visited USA from April 28 4 May - Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Hon. Mr. 2016. The Auditor General’s delegation also visited Kamal Thapa paid an official visit to the State of Canada from 4 to 10 May 2016 at the invitation of the Israel from 24 to 26 May 2016 at the invitation of the Office of the Auditor General of Canada. Israeli Government. The delegation included Foreign 6. Chief of the Army Staff Visits the USA Secretary Mr. Shanker Das Bairagi, Ambassador of Nepal to Israel H.E. Mr. Prahlad Kumar Prasai Chief of the Army Staff, General Rajendra and other senior officials at the Ministry of Foreign Chhetri, visited the United States of America from Affairs and Embassy of Nepal in Tel Aviv. April 24 - May 05, 2016. Gen. Chhetri had meetings with Vice-Chief of Staff General Daniel B. Allyn, US During the visit, Hon. Thapa met the President of Army and Director of Strategic Plans and Policy at Israel HE Mr. Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister HE Mr. the Pentagon and with Assistant Secretary of State Benjamin Netanyahu, and Minister of Agriculture for South and Central Asia Nisha Desai Biswal at the and Rural Development HE Mr. Uri Yehuda Ariel as Department of State. During his US tour, Gen. Chhetri well as other dignitaries and diplomats. also had meetings with senior UN officials including Matters relating to the promulgation of the Under-Secretary General Atul Khare, Department Constitution, post-earthquake reconstruction, of Field Support (DFS), and Assistant Secretary prospect of employment for Nepali nationals in Israel, General Dmitry Titov, Department of Peacekeeping and Israeli cooperation in the field of agriculture Operations (DPKO) and Under Secretary General were discussed during the meeting. DPM Thapa also Jeffrey Feltman, Department of Political Affairs requested for the resumption of new visa issuance to (DPA). Nepali workers that remains halted from 31 March 7. UAE Minister for Foreign Affairs Visits Nepal 2009. His Highness Sheikh Abdullah, Minister for DPM Thapa, addressed the Israel Council on Foreign Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Relations in Jerusalem giving a talk on Nepal’s United Arab Emirates paid a day-long official visit Foreign Policy and Political Development and Nepal- to Nepal on 10 May 2016 at the invitation of Deputy Israel Relations. Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs. 9. Sri Lanka Floods Minister Abdullah inaugurated the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Kathmandu. In mid May 2016, Sri Lanka suffered from heavy flood and landslides. Government of Nepal High Highness Sheikh Abdulla paid a courtesy provided $100,000 to the Government of Sri Lanka as call on the President Rt. Hon. Mrs. Bidya Devi humanitarian gesture. Bhandari and the Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Mr. K. P. MOFA BULLETIN 3 Current Affairs 10. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. Visits Turkey • Bilateral Consultative Group on Security Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Issues: The 12th meeting of Nepal India Bilateral Affairs, Hon. Kamal Thapa, visited Turkey to Consultative Group on Security Issues was participate in the UN World Humanitarian held on 09 June 2016 in New Delhi. The Nepali Conference in Istanbul on 23-24 May 2016 and Mid- delegation comprising officials from Ministry term Review Conference of Istanbul Program of of Defense and Nepali Army was led by Mr. Action for LDCs in Antalya on 27-29 May 2016. Prakash Kumar Suvedi, Joint Secretary (South Asia) while Mr. Abhay Thakur, Joint Secretary DPM Thapa had a bilateral meeting with his (North) led the Indian delegation of similar Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Mr. Mevlüt composition. Çavuşoğlu. The two Ministers had discussions on several areas of possible cooperation–educational • Meeting of Joint Working Group and Joint and cultural exchanges, development cooperation, Standing Committee on Power Sector and trade and tourism. Similarly, DPM Thapa Cooperation held in New Delhi: The third signed an agreement on establishment of bilateral meeting of the Joint Standing Committee (JSC) consultation mechanism between the two foreign and Joint Working Group (JWG) on Power ministries. Sector Cooperation between Nepal and India was held on 27-28 June in New Delhi. The 11. Meeting of the Bilateral Mechanisms Nepali Delegation for JWG was led by Mr. Suman Prasad Sharma, Secretary, Ministry of • Joint Standing Technical Committee on Energy and the Indian delegation was led by Water Resources: The 5th meeting of Nepal- Mr. P.K Pujari, Secretary, Ministry of Power. India Joint Standing Technical Committee on The meeting deliberated on issues pertaining to Water Resources was held on 26 May 2016 power exchange between Nepal and India. in New Delhi. Nepali delegation was led by Mr. Madhav Belbase, Joint Secretary, Ministry • Boundary Working Group and Survey Officials’ of Irrigation, and the Indian delegation was Committee: The 3rd meeting of Nepal–India led by Mr. G.S. Jha, Chairman, Ganga Flood Boundary Working Group (BWG) was held in Control Commission. The meeting deliberated Kathmandu from 23 to 25 June 2016. The Nepali on Mahakali treaty, Saptakoshi High Dam delegation was led by Director General of Survey Multipurpose Project, Sunkoshi Storage cum Department and the Indian Delegation was led Diversion Scheme, Kosi and Gandak projects, by Surveyor General of India.