Prime Minister Koirala & Millennium Summit
For A UN With New Vision

By Jagadish B. Mathema

PRIME Minister Girija Prasad Koirala left on September 3 to participate in the Millennium Summit at the United Nations, scheduled to be held from September 6-9.

A total of approximately 150 Heads of State and Government will be attending this Millennium Summit.

Respect

Nepal, since 1955—the year she became the member of this August body — has shown great respect of the Charter of the United Nations and has also contributed in a humble way by sending Nepalese troops to various troubled places of the world in peace keeping missions.

Following Second World War, United Nations was founded in 1945. The main objective of the United Nations is to try to avert conflicts between the nation of the world, settle disputes by dialogue as well as to help accelerate economic development of the world, which will be implemented by various agencies of the United Nations.

Although United Nations has sometimes been criticised for its failure to maintain world peace, we must agree to the fact that the United Nations has been successful in averting the great wars such as 1 st and 2nd World War.

This Millennium Summit offers an opportunity for reflection, where the Heads of State and Government assembled at the U.N. Headquarters will address and participate in the plenary and interactive sessions of the UN in this twenty first century . In the context of the changed scenario, in the beginning of the Third Millennium the Heads of State and Government should focus on the issues such as restructuring the United Nations, the directions that the United Nations should take in view of this changed context, take up current issues and challenges that the United Nations should take into consideration and try to find out solutions in solving these issues and problems.

Besides, it is hoped that this Millennium Summit will prepare future strategies and will carry out effectively the plan of action which 150 Heads of State and Government will devise, will give emphasis to solve multifarious problems and difficult issues of the developing countries so that the tremendous economic and other gaps in social sector can be filled up in the coming days.

According to the communique issued by the Foreign Ministry, Nepal will mention the issues such as poverty alleviation , various issues that have been raised during non-aligned conferences related with world peace and security, economic development, expansion of permanent members as well as non- permanent members in the Security Council and the role that has to be played by the developing countries etc. Nepal, being one of the founder member of the Non-Aligned Movement will definitely raise the issues voiced in the non -aligned nations belonging to non- aligned countries in the various summits held in the past.

Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola, in his interview given to "Gorkhapatra" a daily vernacular has said" the time has come for restructuring of the UN taking note of the issues raised by the Third World countries, and the reforms to be initiated in the UN. Nepal will give priority in these issues during Millennium Summit of the UN. Nepal will emphasize on topics such as fight against poverty globally, world peace and security, and the initiation towards economic and social form front of the developing countries world - wide.

Nepal will also voice with regard to the expansion for permanent as well as non permanent members of the Security Council. At present, there are five permanent members USA, Russia , UK, France and China. Since countries such as Germany, Japan and India have emerged as strong economic powers, the views expressed by these countries in the expansion of members in the Security Council hold much water. At present, non permanent members serve every two years by rotation. Nepal has already served in 1968/1969 and 1988/89 as non -permanent member in the United Nations.

Nepal has demonstrated her commitments in various issues such as discrimination of the coloured people i.e aprarthied, total disarmament and destroying the nuclear weapons, world peace and the alleviation of proverty. During Koirala’s stay in the United States he will try to meet Nepalese residing in the various parts of the US.

Mr. Koirala, besides engaging in the above activities, will also participate in the Millennium Summit interactive round table, reception hosted by Japan’s Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori reception to be hosted by the US President Bill Clinton, luncheon discussion to be hosted by Asia Society, reception hosted by Murari Raj Sharma, Permanent Representative of Nepal in the United Nations etc.

Prime Minister Koirala will also address the Millennium Summit at the United Nations. He will also meet the Nepalese community residing in New York at the Columbia University hall. P.M Koirala is scheduled to leave New York for Geneva in the same evening.

In Geneva, Prime Minister Koirala will preside over a meeting of the Europe-based Royal Nepalese Ambassadors and visit Palais Des Nations. In addition to this Prime Minister Koirala has plans to meet United Nations High Commissioner. Mr. Mary Robinsion and Ms. Sadako Ogata, United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Prime Minister Koirala will leave Geneva for Hannover, Germany and visit Expo- 2000 and the Nepalese pavilion. He will also attend a welcome ceremony organised by the Lord Mayor of Hannover at the Hannover Town hall and will also sign the golden book of the city of Hannover. He will leave Hannover for Frankfurt and will leave Frankfurt for Kathmandu of September 15. He is scheduled to arrive in Kathmandu on Sept.16

Benefit

It is believed that P. M Koirala’s visit to UN to attend Millenniume Summit will bring greater benefit to Nepal from various UN agencies operating under the agencies of the UN. There will be an increased involvement of the agencies such as U.N. D. P, FAO, ESCAP, UNESCO, etc which will definitely help in the overall development of the economic and social sectors of Nepal.

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