Govt names envoys to 14 diplomatic missions

The government has recommended the names of envoys in 14 Nepali diplomatic missions abroad.

A special meeting of the Council of Ministers held Monday afternoon at the Prime Minister’s residence in Baluwatar recommended the names of ambassadors in diplomatic missions that remain vacant for months. The proposed name list will be sent to the parliamentary Hearing Committee for approval before making appointments.

Nepali Congress leader Sailaja Acharya has been recommended as ambassador to India, Tanka Karki to China, Dr Suresh Chalise to United States, Bhagirath Basnet to United Kingdom, Dinesh Bhattarai to Geneva, Pramesh Hamal to Belgium, Surya Kiran Gurung to Russia, Pradeep Khatiwada to Bangladesh and Dr Navin Prakash Jung Shah to Thailand. Likewise, Ganesh Yonjan has been recommended as ambassador to Japan, Hamid Ansari to Saudi Arabia, Suryanath Mishra to Qatar, Guna Laxmi B.K to Myanmar and Bal Bahadur Kuwar to Pakistan.

Among the names proposed by the cabinet, Karki and Hamal are CPN (UML) leaders; Dr Chalise is Prime Minister GP Koirala’s foreign relations advisor; Basnet is acting secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) and Bhattarai and Khatiwada are MoFA joint secretaries.

The cabinet decision comes amid dispute within the ruling SPA over the appointment of ambassadors. Deputy Prime Minister Amik Sherchan walked out of the cabinet meeting, expressing objection to the selection of envoys, it is learnt.

Most of these names had been finalised weeks ago but no decision was taken owing to differences within the ruling parties as well as the Maoist party’s objection to any appointments prior to their induction in the cabinet. nepalnews.com mk/sd Dec 18 06