Their Majesties, Premier invited to visit Mongolia

By a staff reporter

Kathmandu, Jan. 7: Their Majesties the King and Queen have accepted with pleasure the invitation extended by the President of Mongolia Natsagiin Bagabandi to pay a state visit to Mongolia.

This is stated in a joint statement issued today by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at the end of the three-day state visit of the President of Mongolia to Nepal.

The Mongolian President has also invited Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to pay an official visit to Mongolia, and the Prime Minister has accepted the invitation with pleasure.

The dates of both the visits would be worked out through diplomatic channels.

The joint statement says during the official talks the two sides reviewed the present state of relations between the two countries and agreed to utilise the possibilities of furthering trade and economic relations between the two countries under the trade agreement signed between the two governments in 1992.

"While Mongolia showed interest to export wool to Nepal, Nepal saw the potential of export of handicrafts, especially the Buddhist artefacts, to Mongolia," the joint statement says.

The two sides also identified the potential of bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture, livestock, highland pasturing and horse breeding and Mongolia has agreed to look into the possibility of providing some scholarships to Nepal in these areas.

According to the joint statement, the Nepalese side stated that Nepal would give favourable consideration as far as practicable to Mongolia’s desire to send their defence personnel for peace-keeping training at the Royal Nepal Army’s Peacekeeping Training Centre.

The joint statement says the framework agreement on bilateral cooperation, signed during the visit of the Mongolian President, and the Joint Commission at the level of the Foreign Ministers, has envisaged cooperation in different fields between the two countries.

The Mongolian side thanked His Majesty’s Government on the prompt response to its request to establish their honorary consulate in Kathmandu and both sides viewed this will contribute in enhancing the trade links between the two countries, the joint statement says.

The joints statement also says that during their talks Nepalese Prime Minister Koirala briefed President Bagabandi on the problem of the Bhutanese refugees and the Mongolian President, while appreciating Nepal for giving refuge to some one hundred thousand Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, expressed his earnest hope that the problem would resolved at the earliest.

JOINT STATEMENT ISSUED

The full text of the Joint Statement is as follows:

1. At the invitation of Their Majesties King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah, President of Mongolia His Excellency Mr. Natsagiin Bagabandi and Madame Oyunbileg paid a state visit to the Kingdom of Nepal from January 05-07, 2001. H.E. The President was accompanied by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister for Industry and Commerce and other senior officials of Mongolia.

Their Majesties the King and Queen hosted a state banquet at the Narayanhity Royal Palace in honour of the visiting President of Mongolia on January 05, 2001.

Their Majesties the King and Queen and the President of Mongolia and Madame Oyunbileg visited Lumbini on January 06, 2001. During the visit, President Bagabandi laid the foundation stone of the Mongolian monastery there.

The Rt. Hon. Prime Minister, Mr Girija Prasad Koirala, the Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Chakra Prasad Bastola and the Hon. leader of the opposition in the House of Representatives, Mr Madhav Kumar Nepal, called on the President of Mongolia. President Bagabandi attended a function held at the Kasthamandap by the Kathmandu Metropolis on January 05, 2001 and signed the visitor' book of the city of Kathmandu. He was also presented with a key to the Kathmandu city amidst the same function.

The Prime Minister hosted a dinner in honour of President Bagabandi on January 06, 2001. A civic reception was hosted in honour of President Bagabandi the same afternoon. The president laid a wreath at the martyrs' memorial in Kathmandu. The President also visited the Royal Nepal Army Peacekeeping Training Centre at Pachkhal and was briefed on the activities of the centre.

2. Official talks were held between the delegations of the Kingdom of Nepal and Mongolia on January 06, 2001 respectively led by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and President Natsagiin Bagabandi. While Prime Minister Koirala was assisted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr Chakra Prasad Bastola, the Minister for Industries, Commerce and Supplies Mr Ram Krishna Tamrakar, the Minister for Science and Technology and the accompanying Minister, Mr Surendra Prasad Chaudhary, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Mongolia, principal personal secretary to the Prime Minister, chief secretary, secretary in the Prime Minister's office, foreign secretary, finance secretary and other senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; the Mongolian President was assisted by the Minister for Foreign Affairs Mr L. Erdenechuluun, the Minister for Industry and Commerce Mr Ch. Ganzorig, the Mongolian Ambassador to Nepal, the Deputy Minister for Infrastructure and other senior officials of Mongolia.

3. During the talks, the Prime Minister, while expressing his happiness over the visit of His Excellency the President during the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, stated that the visit would be an important milestone in the history of Nepal-Mongolia relations and herald a new era of mutually beneficial co-operation between the two countries.

4. The two sides reviewed the current state of economic and trade relations between them and agreed to utilise the existing potential in these fields. While the Mongolian side displayed its interest to export more wool to Nepal, the Nepalese side showed its interest to export handicrafts, especially the Buddhist artefacts to Mongolia. Both sides noted that there is a great deal of potential for expanding the economic ties in the fields of wool processing and handicrafts. The two sides expressed the view that there are opportunities for both sides to expand their trade relations under the existing trade agreement signed between the two governments in 1992.

5. The two sides also recognised the potentials for bilateral cooperation in the fields of agriculture, livestock, highland pasturing and horse breeding. The Mongolian side agreed to look into the possibility of providing some scholarships to the Nepalese side in these fields.

6. The Mongolian side expressed their desire to send their defence personnel for receiving peacekeeping training at the Royal Nepal Army Peacekeeping Training Centre. The Nepalese side stated that it would give favourable consideration to the Mongolian request as far as practicable.

7. While recognising the importance of close bilateral cooperation between the two countries in different areas, the two sides shared the view that the framework agreement on bilateral cooperation signed during the visit will go a long way in the history of bilateral relations between the two countries inasmuch as it has envisaged cooperation in the various fields and has created an institutional mechanism-- a joint commission-- at the level of foreign ministers to act as an umbrella body to review their relations. The agreement was signed by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Chakra Prasad Bastola from the Nepalese side and by the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Luvsangiin Erdenechuluun from the Mongolian side in the presence of the President of Mongolia and the Prime Minister of Nepal.

8. His Majesty's Government accepted the Mongolian request to establish their honorary consulate in Kathmandu. The Mongolian President thanked His Majesty's Government for a prompt decision made in this respect. The two sides were of the view that the establishment of the honorary consulate of Mongolia will contribute in further enhancing the trade links between the two countries.

9. The Prime Minister briefed the president on the problem of Bhutanese refugees in Nepal. The Mongolian President, while appreciating His Majesty's Government of Nepal for being host to some one hundred thousand Bhutanese refugees in Nepal, sympathised with the latter and expressed the earnest hope that this problem would be resolved at the earliest.

10. The Prime Minister also briefed the President on the activities of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation including Nepal's readiness to host the stalled eleventh summit in Kathmandu at a date convenient to its member states.

11. The two sides also touched upon the various aspects of international issues of mutual concern. The two countries, while expressing satisfaction over the existing cooperation between them, also agreed to continue working together in various international fora for promoting the cause of developing landlocked countries.

12. The two sides reiterated their willingness to make a contribution to the cause of peace, stability, cooperation and progress throughout the world, in general, and in the Asia and Pacific Region, in particular, and underscored the importance of interactions and exchange of views within the framework of the united nations as well as regional and other multilateral fora.

13. Both sides stressed the need to reform and adapt the United Nations to the evolving international realities with a view to ensuring its efficient functioning in the era of globalization as envisaged in the United Nations millennium declaration. In this regard, both sides reaffirmed their stance for just and equitable enlargement of the Security Council by increasing the number of permanent and non-permanent seats and ensuring representation of both developing and developed countries.

14. Nepal and Mongolia, as fellow members of the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of 77, reiterated the importance of increasing the role of the movement and the group in developing more action-oriented south-south cooperation and meaningful north-south partnership with a view to creating a healthier world free from fear and free from want.

15. The two sides agreed that periodic high level visits and people-to-people contacts will contribute in further strengthening the bilateral relations so happily existing between the two countries.

16. The Mongolian Minister for Industry and Commerce, Mr Ch. Ganzorig and Deputy Minister for Infrastructure, Mr. U. Ulambayar, held a meeting with the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Mr Ram Krishna Tamrakar, on January 05, 2001. The business communities of both the countries held a meeting and discussed at length about the ways and means to promote bilateral trade relations between the two countries.

17. The visiting President extended an invitation to Their Majesties the King and Queen to pay a state visit to Mongolia. Their Majesties accepted the invitation with pleasure and the dates of the visit would be worked out through diplomatic channels.

18. The President also invited Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to pay an official visit to Mongolia. The Prime Minister accepted the invitation with pleasure and the dates of the visit would be worked out through diplomatic channels.

19. The Mongolian President thanked Their Majesties the King and Queen, the Prime Minister and His Majesty's Government as well as the people of Nepal for the excellent arrangement made for the success of his visit.

Peace march organised to foster mutual goodwill

Kathmandu, Jan. 7 (RSS): A peace march was organised here today with the objective of fostering mutual goodwill, reconciliation, fraternity and unity in the society and to propel the country towards economic prosperity.

The peace rally was organised on the initiative of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) to prevent the regretful incidents like violence and the loss of life and property that occurred in the country over the past some days from recurring and to stop situations of lawlessness, social bigotry and Nepal Bandh which have an adverse effect on the social and economic life of the people from repeating.

It is believed that the peace march will contribute further in maintaining national integrity, social goodwill and communal unity in a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic and multi-cultural country like ours.

The peace and reconciliation march, which started from the local Open-Air-Theatre, passed through Basantapur, Ason, Ratna Park, Bagbazaar and Putali Sadak and concluded upon reaching the Open Air Theatre via the Exhibition Road.

The participants of the peace march carried placards and banners with slogans like--"peace, goodwill and tolerance is the commitment of all the people of Nepal", "regional unity : the basis of our age-old national integrity", " Himal, Pahad, Terai: nobody is an alien", "let's give up communal prejudice and promote fraternity", and " peace and goodwill: the pillars of nation-building"-- written on them.

The peace rally was participated in by the office-bearers and members of the FNCCI and Nepal Chamber of Commerce as well as representatives of all the political parties, intellectuals, the civil society, journalists, artistes, players, litterateurs and various other peoples affiliated to the economic, religious, social and academic fields and people of different walks of life.

Koirala hosts tea party for unity

Kathmandu, Jan. 7 (RSS): Prime Minister and Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala hosted a tea party for NC MPs and central committee members at the Prime Minister's residence today with the objective of giving out a message of unity inside the party

Speaking on the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala said continous and regular meetings, dialogue and good relations comprise the preliminary phase of unity and the tea party has been hosted in order to initiate this process.

"At a time when we have been requesting cooperation from all other political parties in the country for the resolution of problems at national and international level, it is our responsibility to become united", Mr Koirala said.

Former prime ministers Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Sher Bahadur Deuba, Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, NC general secretary Sushil Koirala and senior leader Sailaja Acharya were also present on the occasion.

Expressing his views at the programme, former prime minister Deuba said due attention from the leadership to the views of the dissatisfied section in the party will mean unity for the party in actual terms.

The presence of friends at today's tea party and dialogue among them can inspire leaders and workers of the party to move ahead unitedly, he added.

Mr Deuba also said the political stature of Prime Minister and Party President Girija Prasad Koirala will grow further if he does not harbour prejudice against anyone and does not discriminate against workers of the party.

It would be in the Prime Minister and party president's own interest if he accepts good thinking emanating from the dissatisfied section of the party, he added.

NC central member Khum Bahadur Khadka said clean and healthy competition inside the party will further strengthen and consolidate the party.

Finance and Defence Minister Mahesh Acharya said the party will become strong if it moves ahead in pursuit of its policies, if there are competing views inside the party and if the leadership accepts without any prejudice the just viewpoints of the dissatisfied section.

Work to protect nationalism, democracy, UML appeals

Kathmandu, Jan. 7 (RSS): The CPN(UML), in a press statement published here today, called upon all persons and parties wishing to move ahead for the protection of nationalism and democracy and for total change to stand firmly together against wrong tendencies in order to free the people from being misled by such elements.

Stating that the objection of the party to the incidents that occurred in Kathmandu Valley on December 27 in reaction to the alleged views of an Indian film star about Nepal and the Nepali people had already been made public, the statement adds, "It is now being realised everywhere that anti-national and anti-democratic forces were behind the conspiracy to disrupt the communal harmony existing between people of various ethnic groups, languages, religions and cultures for centuries, and the misdeed of spreading hatred and making people fight among one another has still not stopped in some part of the country."

Stating that keeping this in mind, the CPN (UML) held an all-party meeting in Kathmandu Valley on January 3, a goodwill rally on January 4 and an all-party goodwill rally today and that this kind of rally has already been held in other parts of the country as well, the CPN(UML), in the statement, called upon all parties who are for nationalism and democracy to extend cooperation to the Mechi-Mahakali goodwill rally being organised by the CPN (UML) from January 10 to 15 to foster communal harmony between people of various ethnic groups and languages provide impetus to the campaign.

Bagabandi visits Paran Durbar complex

Kathmandu, Jan. 7 (RSS): President of Mongolia Natsagiin Bagabandi and his spouse Madame A. Oyunbileg visited the Hanumandhoka Durbar this morning.

The Mongolian President and Madame Oyunbileg were welcomed by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Datta Chataut.

Mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City Keshav Sthapit, Chief District Officer of Kathmandu Tulasi Prasad Bhattarai, Director-General of the Department of Archaeology Riddhi Baba Pradhan and chief of the Hanumandhoka Durbar office were also present on the occasion.

During the visit at Hanumandhoka Durbar complex, the distinguished guests viewed the artistic idols, the golden gate, the statue of Narasimha, historical monuments, the Nashal Chowk courtyard, the King Mahendra Memorial Museum and theTemple of Taleju Bhawani.

The President and Madame A. Oyunbileg also signed a visitors' book there.

Members of the Mongolian Presidential entourage and high-level officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were also present on the occasion.

Likewise, in Lalitpur, President of Mongolia Natsagiin Bagabandi and his spouse Madame A. Oyunbileg visited the Patan Durbar this morning.

The President, Madame Oyunbileg and other members of the presidential entourage were accorded a hearty welcome by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Tarini Datta Chataut.

MP Krishna Lal Maharjan, Mayor of Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City Buddhi Raj Bajracharya, chief district officer of Lalitpur Kulchandra Shrestha, chairman of lalitpur district development committee (DDC) Madhav Prasad Poudel, Deputy Mayor of Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City Ramesh Chitrakar, Ward Chairmen Narayan Lal Awale and Gyanendra Shakya were also present on the occasion.

During the visit, the distinguished guests viewed the Sundari Chowk square, the Mulchowk courtyard and the Krishnamandir Temple at the Patan Durbar complex.

On the occasion, chief of the Patan Durbar Monumental Zone Conservation and maintenance office Mandakini Shrestha briefed the distinguished guests on the Patan Durbar monumental area.

President Bagabandi and Madame Iyunbileg also put down their signatures on the visitors' book there.

The distinguished guests from Mongolia also paid homage at the Hiranyabarna Mahavihar Monastery.

A presentation of the "Bansuri Khi" traditional music and the Jyapu, Kirant Yakthumba, Limbu and Pancha Buddha classical dances was also performed on the occasion.

Also today, president Bagabandi and Madame Oyunbileg went to local Mahaboudhha and paid homage to Lord Gautama Buddha.

Members of the Mongolian President's entourage and high officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were present on the occasion.

Their Majesties bid farewello to President Bagabandi

Kathmandu, Jan. 7 (RSS): President of Mongolia Natsagiin Bagabandi and his spouse Madame A. Oyunbileg left here for home by a special flight today after completing a three-day state visit to Nepal at the friendly invitation of Their Majesties King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

Their Majesties the King and Queen bid farewell to the distinguished guests at the VVIP Lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport.

On the occasion, the national anthems of both the countries were played and a contingent of the Royal Nepalese Army presented a 21gun-salute in honour of the Mongolian President.

The distinguished guests were greeted with garlands by Pancha Kanyas.

The Prime Minister, the Chief Justice, the Speaker, the Chairman of the National Assembly and the Chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee were present at the VVIP Lounge of the airport on the occasion.

Also present on the occasion were the ministers, heads of constitutional bodies, the mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City and high-ranking officials of His Majesty's Government and the royal palace service.

Likewise, other members of the president's entourage, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Mongolia L. Erdenechuluun, Minister for Industry and Commerce Ch. Ganzorig, Deputy Minister U Ulambayar and MPs also returned home today.