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VOL. 27, NO. 45, July25 , 2008 (Shrawan 10 2065 B.S.)
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FOREIGN SUPPORT
Helping Hands
Senior officials from UK and Japan assure of continued cooperation to Nepal in coming days
By A CORRESPONDENT
Last week, two senior officials from the United Kingdom and Japan came calling to Kathmandu. The ministers from the two largest donor countries both assured of continued support to Nepal in its path towards development and prosperity in the coming days.
The visiting Japanese Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Osamu Uno was present in an occasion where an agreement to finance expansion of a critical road infrastructure was signed.
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Japanese Minister in town: Helping Hands |
Japan has agreed to provide a grant assistance of Rs 1774.74million to the Government of Nepal to be utilized for the improvement of Kathmandu - Bhaktapur Road (Koteshwor- Suryabinayak, 9.1 KM) by widening existing 2 lanes to 4 lanes with intersection improvements as well. This project is estimated to be completed on March 31, 2011.
Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Tatsuo Mizuno, and Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Rameshore Prasad Khanal, signed the agreement to this effect and exchanged notes on behalf of their respective governments, in Kathmandu, on Thursday (July 17). Finance Minister Dr Ram Saran Mahat was also present at the signing ceremony. The Japanese grant will be used to procure equipment and services necessary for implementation of the project. The Project will also take into consideration advanced traffic engineering so as to enable smooth traffic movement as well as protect commuters from traffic accidents.
Apart from this, the Japanese minister also held meetings with top leaders including Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda.' Foreign Secretary Gyan Chandra Acharya told reporters that the PM had briefed the Japanese minister about the peace process. "And he said that the politics of cooperation and understanding will have to continue," Acharya quoted the PM as saying.
UK Minister's Visit
The British Foreign Office Minister for Africa, Asia and the UN, Lord Malloch Brown also visited Nepal last week.
In his two-day visit, he held a whirlwind meetings with senior leaders. In each of the meetings he stressed on the politics of understanding and urged the parties to work together on forming a constitution, which will include restructuring the state.
Talking to reporters before his departure on July 19 morning, he said, "The recent elections were a key milestone in the peace process and the parties should be congratulated for coming together and making a joint commitment to peace and democratic values."
The British minister said the new government must take the initiative to deliver peace and security, economic progress and development. "This is the time to ensure that all parties confirm to democratic norms and cooperation to bring an immediate end to violence and intimidation, to tackle corruption and deliver accountable government", Brown said.
Stating the progress on the future of the two armies (NA and PLA) is crucial for securing long-term peace in Nepal, Lord Brown said parties should reach an early agreement on how to manage this key issue in order to build trust and create a security force that is appropriate to Nepal's needs. Commenting on public security, Brown said, "Security bodies and courts must be empowered to deliver security and justice - this is not the job of freelance organizations like armed groups in Terai and the Maoist youth wing YCL."
