HM gives assent to two bills

Kathmandu, Jan. 31 (RSS): His Majesty the King has given Royal Assent to two bills passed by both Houses of Parliament.

The bills are the bill designed to amend some Nepal acts relating to communications and the bill designed to set up a Nepal Pharmacy Council, according to the Parliament Secretariat.

NEPAL-INDIA TREATY
Wide-ranging talks on various aspects

Kathmandu, Jan. 31 (RSS): Foreign secretaries of Nepal and India held official talks at Hyderabad house in New Delhi today.

Narayan Shumshere Thapa, Foreign Secretary of Nepal, was assisted by Royal Nepalese Ambassador Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and other senior officials of HMG.

Indian Foreign Secretary Lalit Man Singh was assisted by Indian Ambassador to Nepal Deb Mukharji and senior officials of different ministries of the Government of India.

The two foreign secretaries had an exchange of views on issues relating to the Nepal-India Treaty of Peace and Friendship of 1950 as directed by the two Prime Ministers during the official visit of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to India in July-August 2000.

They discussed various aspects of the treaty in a candid and open manner and agreed to meet at the earliest to continue discussions keeping in mind the concerns and interests of both sides and their close and friendly relations, according to a press release issued by the Royal Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi.

The two foreign secretaries also reviewed the progress made in implementing the decisions and understanding reached during the visit of the Prime Minister.

The Nepalese side requested the Indian side to expedite the clearance of railway operations arrangement and customs transit procedures so as to make the ICD at Birgunj operational at the earliest. The Indian side agreed to look into the matter and expedite it.

The outstanding issue of duty refund was also taken up with the Indian side for an early settlement.

Stress was laid on the need to complete works related to the Nepal-India boundary by the joint technical committee within the time-frame as directed by the two Prime Ministers.

The joint working group on the boundary would meet shortly to complete examination of the facts relating to the alignment of the boundary in the western sector, including the Kalapani area, and other pockets where perceptions of the two sides differ.

The Nepalese side urged the Indian side to expedite implementation of decisions regarding embankment constructions at Rapti, Lal Bakeya, Bagmati, Kamala and Khando rivers as agreed.

Problems being faced by Nepalese in the north-east as well as other parts of India were raised by the Nepalese side.

Issues relating to bilateral trade and investment, economic cooperation, border management and matters of mutual concern were discussed during the meeting.

Both sides agreed that the existing institutional mechanisms for dialogue and interaction between the two countries would be fully utilised to achieve progress on issues under discussion.

They also agreed that periodic consultations at the foreign secretary level would also contribute to strengthen bilateral relations.

Nepal provides Rs.10 M, relief materials to quake victims

Kathmandu, Jan. 31 (RSS): In view of the recent devastating earthquake that caused massive loss of life and property in some states of India including Gujrat, His Majesty’s Government has, expressing deep sympathies to the government and people of India, decided to provide Nepalese rupees 10 million as a token relief assistance to quake victims.

A cabinet meeting this morning also decided to dispatch a team of 10 medical doctors to the quake hit areas in India to provide medical assistance to the victims.

Likewise, the Marwari Services Committee Nepal is to provide 2,l00 pieces of blankets as cooperation to the earthquake ravaged families of Gujarat in India.

The blankets would be dispatched through the Indian Embassy and Indian Airlines, it is learnt.

Likewise the Federation of Nepalesse Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal will jointly raise funds for cooperation to the earthquake victims of Gujarat and send it to the Central Relief Fund through the Indian Embassy here.

For this purpose, both the organisations have appealed to donors to deposit money at Everest Bank, New Baneswar (account number 008520 C), Nepal Bangladesh Bank, New Baneswar (account number 025151 C), and Rastriya Banijya Bank Teku (account number 5422/44).

The FNCCI and the National Society for Earthquake Technology Nepal have designated Suraj Baidya and Mahesh Nakarmi respectively as liasion officers for tasks pertaining to the cooperation.

Meanwhile, Lumbini Development Bank has decided to contribute Rs 256,000 to the Gujarat Earthquake Relief Fund.

Likewise, the Primary Health Services Resources Centre has stated that it has contributed Rs 40,000 for the earthquake victims and appealed to one and all to contribute to the relief operation.

Similarly, Nepal Red Cross Society (NRCS) has provided a financial assistance of Rs 89,600 (equivalent to Swiss Franc 2,000) to the Indian Red Cross Society for earthquake victims of the Indian state of Gujarat through the Federation of the Red Cross Society based in Geneva.

Expressing deep sorrow over the loss of lives and property caused by the earthquake in Gujarat, NRCS has expressed deep sympathy to general secretary of the Indian Red Cross Society Dr. Bimala Ramalingam.

‘PM won’t resign under threat’

Kathmandu, Jan. 31 (RSS): Central member of the Nepali Congress Arjun Narsing KC has emphasised the need of unity among forces committed to the constitution in order to deal with violence, corruption, and the other problems in the country.

At a face to face programme organised by the Reporters Club of Nepal here today, Mr KC said that preventing the Prime Minister from entering the Singha Durbar secretariat was not the right way of seeking change in the government in a democratic dispensation and that the Prime Minister will not resign just because of threats from somebody, adding that the party would present itself in a united manner at the coming parliamentary session.

CPN (UML) standing committee member Jhala Nath Khanal said that there should be understanding among parties inside and outside parliament to face the challenges in the political, economic, social, and cultural spheres in the spirit of the people’s movement and in line with the aspirations of the people and the needs of the nation.

Stating that as the government had violated the law in the Lauda aircraft lease deal and corruption was involved in it, he said the CPN (UML) was seeking the resignation of the Prime Minister to protect democratic norms, values and ethics.

Spokesman of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Kamal Thapa said that understanding among all the political parties was required to take the country out of its serious problems and that except for submitting memoranda to the Prime Minister, there was no understanding between his party and the CPN (UML).

General secretary of the Rastriya Janamorcha and MP Nabaraj Subedi said that armed force and power would not resolve the Maoist problem which should be dealt with politically.

Siddhilal Singh of the CPN (ML) said that his party was willing to launch a joint movement with other parties on issues such as terrorism, inflation and corruption.

CPN (UML) general secretary Bishnu Bahadur Manandhar said that the country needed a people’s movement launched by forces in favour of changes.

Ghanashyam Sharma Paudel of the Samyukta Janamorcha said that the Maoist issue should be resolved only through dialogue.

Lok Narayan Subedi of the CPN (Marxist) also expressed his views on the present situation of the country at the programme chaired by club president Rishi Dhamala.

Committee formed to mark Democracy Day

Kathmandu, Jan. 31 (RSS): A 251-member 51st National Democracy Day Celebration Committee has been constituted with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala as the chairman to celebrate National Democracy Day in a grand manner on February 18, 19 and 20.

A meeting held in the presence of Prime Minister Koirala at the meeting hall of the National Planning Commission (NPC) here today constituted the committee.

The committee has also created four sub-committees for publicity, talk programmes, stage management and ground management and parade and gymnasium coordination.

The meeting also decided to institute a fund for the government to honour the martyrs’ families on the day and adopted the suggestion on inscribing the words golden jubilee of democracy on plaques at the inauguration of various development and construction works throughout one year beginning February 19.

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala noted that the decision to celebrate the golden jubilee of the establishment of democracy throughout the year and to incorporate golden jubilee of democracy in inauguration plaques will help take democracy to the grassroots level and also increase faith in democracy.

As per the programme, the Royal Nepal Army will play reveille from Bhimsen Tower (Dharahara) and fire salvos and volleys, the Guthi Sansthan will offer prayers and worship for eternal peace of the souls of known and unknown martyrs who laid down their lives for the sake of democracy, His Majesty the King will give a message to the nation, Radio Nepal and Nepal Television will host talk programmes, and flowers will be showered from a plane and balloons will be released at the beginning of the programme at the Royal Nepal Army pavilion.

A special postage stamp will be released and a souvenir published to mark the golden jubilee of democracy in the country.

The Prime Minister, who is the chairman of the celebration committee, will host a reception at Shital Nibas on February 19 while there will be festive illumination throughout the kingdom on February 18, 19 and 20.

The meeting also constituted a publicity sub-committee with Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta as the convenor, a talks sub-committee with Kathmandu University Vice-chancellor Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma as convenor, a stage decoration and management sub-committee with Kathmandu Mayor Keshav Sthapit as convenor and a grounds management and parade and gymnasium coordination sub-committee with chief district officer of Kathmandu Tulasi Prasad Bhattarai as convenor.

The Chief Justice, the Speaker, the National Assembly Chairman, the acting chairman of the Raj Parishad, the Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, heads of constitutional bodies, MPs and other distinguished persons attended the meeting.

PM to open Int’l Buddhist meet today

Butwal, Jan. 31 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is scheduled to inaugurate the International Buddhist Conference at Lumbini tomorrow.

Fifty-six Bhikshus and Buddhist scholars from 24 countries have been invited to the conference which has "Lumbini in the new millennium: The role of youth and community" as its theme.

The international conference is going to be organised as per the commitment Nepal made at the first world Buddhist conference held at Lumbini in 1998 to convene International level Buddhist Conferences once in two years.

Bhikshu Dr Sugandha is scheduled to present a working paper on "Lumbini in the new millennium: The role of youth" and Dr Man Mohan Sainju on "Lumbini in the new millennium: The role of the community."

Study team

Kathmandu, Jan. 31 (RSS): A 7-member parliamentary team led by National Assembly Social Justice Committee Chairman Jivan Prem Shrestha today left for Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailail and Kanchanpur districts to make an on site study of the arrangements being made for the rehabilitation of the Kamaiyas there.

The other members of the team are Surendra Prasad Panday, Mrs Ambika Panta, Chanda Shaha, Kaiya Chaudhari and Lal Bahadur Bishwakarma while Birendra Bahadur Karki is secretary to the team.

Meeting

Kathmandu, Jan. 31 (RSS): A meeting of the CPN (UML) Parliamentary Party here today decided to seek the resignation of the Prime Minister citing the law and order situation, corruption, etc. as the reasons.

Also, the meeting decided to convene a meeting of the parliamentary party at Singha Durbar on February 8, 2001 at 1 p.m.