NC Policy & Programme adopted

Pokhara, Jan. 22 (RSS): The closed door session of the 10th Nepali Congress General Convention approved the party’s policy and programmes this morning.

According to the policy and programmes, the Nepali Congress is a party having unswerving faith and trust in multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy and the present constitution is the coveted goal of the party’s more than 50 years of tireless struggle.

It is but natural that any constitution needs to be amended from time to time according to the changing times and on the basis of prescribed constitutional procedures, the party said in its policy and programmes document adding, the party, however, firmly believes that the constitution contains some irreversible fundamental aspects which are indispensable for national unity, integrity, the freedom of the people and their overall interest and progress.

Stating that some elements are out to finish off the present constitution obtained through the sacrifices made by the Nepalese, the NC document has stressed the need to probe the intentions of such elements which are decrying the constitution, which for the first time made the people sovereign, guaranteed an atmosphere of justice, equality, co-existence and freedom and laid the foundation for the equal progress of different sectors, classes, communities and ethnic groups in order to maintain the country’s national unity and integrity.

Elements which are against political freedom, social justice and national unity have not been able to countenance the present constitution, the document said adding, the Nepali Congress has been struggling against such elements ever since its founding.

Today’s political battle is a battle between those who are working for the protection of nationalism, democracy and the ideals of socialism and those who are against all these things, a battle between the parliamentary system and authoritarianism, the paper said.

The Nepali Congress believes that the intention of the group that has been perpetrating violence and terror in the name of the Maoists has become clear to the entire nation, it further said adding, the constitution has been their main target and the Nepali Congress clearly understands that the group is, cunningly, raising the issue of a constitutional assembly with the intention of curtailing the people’s sovereign rights. The party wants to make the people understand this (hidden) agenda, it further said.

The magnitude of the barbaric excesses being committed by some elements in the country is too great to compare with any such excesses committed in history, the paper said.

Nepali Congress workers have been the main target of the Maoists while members of other parties and the common people have also fallen prey to their violence, the document further said adding, it is not only the Nepali Congress but also all political parties having faith in democracy and the present constitution and the conscious citizenry which should collectively resist this tendency to put paid to democracy.

The government should, on its part, activate and strengthen the security agencies for the protection of people’s lives and property, the NC said in its document and called for cooperation from all sides for implementing the programme announced by the NC to mobilise party workers as part of a peace campaign.

The Nepali Congress wants dialogue even with those who are opposed to its ideology, and to promote healthy competition and work together with all on the basis of a minimum agreement. The party is always in favour of regular dialogue with all political forces including the main opposition party, it is also stated.

The Nepali Congress had kept its doors open for the resolution of problems through dialogue even with those who are resorting to violence in the name of Maoist activity.

Integrity: Likewise, the Nepali Congress has noted that meaningful creativity on the part of the parliamentary party and the role and responsibility fulfilled by MPs constitute one of the main bases for building the public image of the party.

According to the policy and programmes document approved by the 10th general convention of the party, concrete policy and guidelines will be formulated for the distribution of parliamentary tickets with a view to effective enforcement of the party’s image building policy.

The party hopes that this will enhance the effectiveness of the role played by MPs in parliament, the interest shown by MPs in the evaluation of bills and other reports presented in parliament, regular presence at designated meetings and well prepared participation over issues concerned, collection of relevant information and subject knowledge for parliamentary discussion and mobilisation of facilities provided by the state in the service of the public.

In this regard the dynamism of the parliamentary party and different subject committees will be increased.

A strong policy has also been formulated to evaluate the sense of responsibility and work execution of MPs and their character and association with various sectors of civil society during their term in Parliament.

When it comes to distribution of tickets to ex-MPs the parliamentary board will make an assessment on basis of the annual report presented by the chief whip and the secretary of the parliamentary party, according to the policy and programmes of the party.

ASIA-INVEST PROGRAMME
Focus on SME development

Kathmandu, Jan. 22 (RSS): Asia Invest, Technology and Trade Information Promotion System (TIPS) and the DEVNET jointly organised an information seminar on "How Nepalese organisations could benefit from the Asia Investment Programme" here today.

Launched in 1991, the Asia Invest Programme is an initiative of the European Commission that aims to promote closer cooperation between small and medium size enterprises in the European Union (EU) and Asia.

The Asia Invest was designed to complement the initiative of the different EU member states and to help small and medium enterprises to internationalise their business strategies by providing them with the information necessary to make decisions on partnerships, markets and investments.

The main objective of the Asia Invest Programme is to assist the Nepalese business community in precisely the above-mentioned sectors, Ms. Genevieve Anne Dehoux, senior project manager of the Brussels-based Asia-Invest Secretariat said.

She informed that at present the Asia-Invest was implementing its programmes in 18 countries of Asia including Nepal.

The Asia-Invest Programme has prepared three partnership plans in which the companies from Asia and Europe can work together, she said.

According to her, under the partnership programme, research and monitoring of Asian markets will be conducted to help European companies in their strategic decision-making process and training sessions and courses in language and business culture will be undertaken to prepare European and Asian companies to do business together.

Similarly, the partnership programme aims to train companies from the targeted Asian countries to help them upgrade skills within companies and prepare them for international cooperation.

Ms. Dehoux said that the technical assistance component might also be used to develop Asian Business Associations and strengthen their links to the European organisations.

She said the Nepalese business community too could benefit from the programmes of the Asia-Investment to promote their business relations in the international arena.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Pradip Kumar Shrestha, expressed the belief that the seminar would be useful for the Nepalese investors to derive important advantages in the fields of market management, business partnership, investment and business information.

Likewise, a 3-day national training programme began here today under the joint auspices of Research Centre for Applied Science and Technology (RECAST), Tribhuwan University and Asian and Pacific Centre for Transfer of Technology (APCTT), New Delhi.

Some 22 entrepreneurs are taking part in the training which aimed at protecting environment in Nepalese industrial units by introducing an environment management system and finding ways on enhancing the quality and competitiveness of Nepalese products in consistent with the international standards.

Inaugurating the training, Rector at TU Prof. Prem Raj Pant said that the training had greater significance for enhancing the competitiveness of the Nepalese products in the international markets.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said that the FNCCI had been carrying out various programmes on the management of environment in Nepalese industries so as to meet the international stardards set in this regard.

During the inaugural function, executive director of the RECAST Prof. Tulsi Prasad Pathak, second vice chairman of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Surendra Bir Malakar, environment expert Dr. S. K. Hussein and resource person Sam Kumar also spoke about the usefulness of the training.

Nepal-China ties based on tenet of co-existence: Khatri

Lalitpur, Jan. 22 (RSS): The Arniko Samaj hosted a reception here Sunday on the occasion of the Chinese new lunar calendar year "Chon Jie" or the spring festival.

Addressing the function, chief guest chairman of the National Human Rights Commission Nayan Bahadur Khatri said, although economic and cultural ties existed between the Nepalese and the Chinese people 1700 years ago, it was the great sculptor Arniko who is credited with further promoting those ties after his visit to China during the 13th century AD.

Both the countries are entering into a new era of development after the establishment of formal diplomatic relations based on their traditional ties and the five principles of peaceful co-existence, Mr. Khatri said, adding that the cordial political and friendly relations so happily subsisting between our two countries have created a suitable environment for economic assistance between them.

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Nepal, Mr. Zeng Xuyong stated that the Arniko Samaj had been playing an active role in further strengthening and deepening the ties of friendship between Nepal and China chiefly in the industrial sector since its inception 12 years ago.

Cordial relations exist between the two closest neighbours Nepal and India and interaction is taking place between the two neighbours in various fields as political, economic, cultural and military, ambassador Xuyong said.

President of the Arniko Samaj C. D. Rajbhandari said that the age-old religious and cultural ties existing at the societal level between Nepal and China continue to cement the bonds of friendship between the people of Nepal and China.

High level HMG officials, office-bearers of the Chinese diplomatic mission, Chinese nationals working in different sectors, intellectuals, industrialists and businessmen were present on the occasion.

RJM flays attack violence

Kathmandu, Jan. 22 (RSS): The Rastriya Jana Morcha has strongly condemned the assault against and manhandling of its cadres by Maoists at various places and said that such activity is not revolution but terror and vandalism.

At a press conference here today, the party stated that the Maoists had indulged in ignominious acts and the terrorising of Janamorcha activists in various parts of Pyuthan, Dang, Bardiya and Arghakhanchi districts and the so-called people’s war was in fact an ultra leftist and terrorist activity.

A press release circulated at the press conference states, "Whatever terror the Maoists have resorted to was wrong and will become inert soon. We will not retreat before the barrels of guns which will prove to be ineffective against right ideas and ideals."

At the press conference, Rastriya Janamorcha General Secretary Nabaraj Suvedi said that a decision has been taken to create people’s vigilant groups to counter the violent assaults, abductions, threats and forcible raising of fund by the Maoists.

Likewise, it was also informed on the occasion that special protest programmes against the abductions and threats are to be launched in Dang, Pyuthan, Arghakhanchi and Gulmi districts for one month from January 28.