Crown Prince inaugurates exhibition

Kathmandu, Jan. 25 (RSS): His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated the CAN Info-Tech-2001 exhibition and conference organised by Computer Association of Nepal, amidst a function at the Birendra International Convention Centre today.

On the occasion, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince inspected the five-day exhibition participated in by eighty computer companies from Nepal, India, Saudi Arabia etc.

At the inaugural function, Minister for Science and Technology Surendra Prasad Chaudhary said, an information technology revolution is taking place in the world today and in this context, His Majesty’s Government aims to put Nepal on the information technology map of the world within five years. The private sector has the most important role to play in attaining this goal, he added.

"If a country is economically backward that does not mean that it should be so in the field of knowledge also, and this saying of renowned scientist Albert Einstein applies equally to Nepal also," he noted, saying, "We did miss the industrial revolution and the green revolution in the past, but we won’t miss this one- the information technology revolution."

National Planning Commission member Dr Ramesh Anand Vaidya referred to the plan to make all Nepalese computer-literate by the year 2010 and said that to attain the goal there is a programme to introduce computer education at all educational establishments, from university down to school level, and a policy being followed requires all government offices to open their web sites.

Chairman of CAN Lochan Lal Amatya said this kind of exhibition was being held every year since 1995. Preparation of a bill on information technology policy by the government is highly encouraging, he noted.

CAN treasurer Rajiv Subba said, "The exhibition this time is bigger than the past one."

The information technology conference will start on Saturday with the participation of 250 delegates and experts from 20 countries.

All party meet on POL products

Kathmandu, Jan. 25 (RSS): Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramkrishna Tamrakar chaired the first meeting today of the all party committee constituted in connection with structuring the price of petroleum products and providing suggestions to the management of Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC).

Addressing the meeting, Minister Tamrakar said after the decline in the price of petroleum products in the international market His Majesty’s Government also reduced the price of kerosene to provide some relief to the general public. Various committees are being constituted in order to study the use of ethanol, adulteration in petro-products and expansion of pipeline from Raxual to Amlekhgunj, he added.

Minister Tamrakar also hoped that the committee would follow the decision of the all party meeting held on Nov. 15, 2000 under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Ram Chandra Paudel and make an extensive study and discussion and present a report on matters relating to the purchasing procedure of petroleum products, fixing of price, management of NOC and providing such products easily to the backward community.

As the report to be presented by the committee will be very practical any government can enforce it, Mr Tamrakar said and gave assurance on behalf of the government to implement the report of the committee.

Taking part in the meeting on behalf of Nepali Congress were Chinkaji Shrestha, Dr Biswambhar Pyakurel and Dr Parashar Koirala, CPN-UML MP Rajendra Prasad Pandey, RPP’s Ramsharan Pathak and CPN-ML’s Devi Prasad Ojha, according to the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.

Likewise, Amik Sherchan of Amyukta Janamorcha, Sunil Prajapati of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party, Nara Bahadur Karmacharya of United Centre, Sitaram Tamang of CPN-Malema, Loknarayan Subedi of CPN-Marxist and Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha of the National People’s Movement Coordination Committee.

Member-secretary of the committee and director general of Department of Commerce Krishnahari Baskota shed light on the jurisdiction and task of the committee.

The 26-member committee constituted under the chairmanship of the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies represents various political parties and concerning government offices.

The committee has also decided to setup its secretariat at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.

Nepal, Pakistan sign accord on double taxation

Kathmandu, Jan. 25 (RSS): His Majesty’s Government and the government of Pakistan have signed an agreement to evade double taxation and check evasion of income tax.

According to the Ministry of Finance, the agreement aims at protecting investors of both countries from double taxation, and promoting investment.

The agreement, which is based on the international practices that define the taxing rights between Nepal and Pakistan in different circumstances, is expected to serve as a milestone in bilateral relations and fostering cooperation in such sectors as trade, finance, economy and culture.

The agreement was signed by secretary at the Finance Ministry Bimal Prasad Koirala and Riaz Hussain Naqvi, secretary at revenue division and chairman of central board of revenue on behalf of their respective governments.

His Majesty’s Government has already signed into agreements with India and Sri Lanka to avoid double taxation.

Israeli Embassy staff cast ballots to elect PM

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Jan.25: Four diplomatic staff at the Embassy of Israel here cast their ballots for the election of Israeli Prime Minister, scheduled to be held in Israel on February 6, next month.

Today’s voting at the Israeli Embassy here was under the special arrangements made for voting in Israeli diplomatic missions abroad.

Of the 99 polling stations in the Israeli diplomatic missions in different countries, Nepal was the second smallest after Egypt that has only three registered voters in the Israeli Embassy there.

With 3,171 diplomatic staff registered to vote in all the Israeli diplomatic missions around the globe, the largest polling station with 335 registered voters is in New York, USA.

"The polling in the diplomatic missions including here had to be done earlier than the scheduled election date in Israel so that the ballots from ballots could reach Israel in time," Avi Nir, Israeli Ambassador to Nepal, told reporters minutes before casting his vote in the presence of newsmen at his embassy-office here this afternoon.

Incumbent Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and the leader of the Likud Party Ariel Sharon are contesting for the post of Prime Minister in Israel.

It will be for the first time Israel will be holding a separate special election for the prime minister with the composition of the Knesset remaining unchanged.

Ever since it changed its electoral system in 1996, Israeli prime minister is elected by a separate, direct ballot. The election mechanism will be based on what Israel calls the Basic Law.

Israel, according to Ambassador Nir, does not have a Constitution and it is the Basic Law that navigates all the rules of the land.

Explaining the press about the Israeli elections, he said that the basic electoral issue in Israel is peace. "Israeli people are willing to give a lot for the sake of peace," he said. "After so many years of patience, they feel that they have given so much with hopes to receive peace but have not attained what they long for."

One month after the Israeli Parliament, the Knesset, voted in a first ballot in favour of dissolving the House and new general elections in November last year, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak submitted his resignation to Israeli President Kastav.

Now that February 6 has been the fixed as the election day for the post of prime minister, Israel is expected to publish the final election results by February 14. Within 45 days of the publication of the election results, the prime minister elect is expected to have to present the list of ministers and basic policy guidelines before the Knesset.

BHUTANESE REFUGEE ISSUE
Team to visit camps before verification

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Jan.25: The joint team of Nepalese and Bhutanese officials gathered in eastern Jhapa District today decided to inspect the Bhutanese refugee camps on Friday and Saturday.

Only after the field inspection, the joint team will decide which camp will be used for the verification of the refugees, according to Usha Nepal, Joint Secretary at Home Ministry, who is heading the Nepalese side in the Joint Verification Team.

"There has been no conflict between the two sides’ officials on the choice of the camps," she said. "We are even yet to decide where should we establish our office to facilitate the verification process."

The Nepalese and Bhutanese officials have gathered in Jhapa to prepare ground work and logistics for the verification of the Bhutanese refugees in one of the seven UNHCR-maintained camps in eastern Nepal.

Nepal and Bhutan last month agreed to form a joint verification team to verify the above 100,000 Bhutanese refugees languishing in the camps for the last 10 years.

The 10th round of bilateral talks last month between the two Himalayan Kingdoms approved the idea of beginning the verification from one of the seven camps.

Nepal and Bhutan had stiff differences on the verification process for long. While Nepal pressed on the verification of the refugees on the basis of family-heads, Bhutan had been adamant on verifying each and every refugee.

Amidst tremendous international pressure, however, the Dragon Kingdom last month softened its stand and agreed to verify the refugees with their families intact.

Bhutanese Foreign Minister Jigme Y. Thinley, after the 10th round of talks, had also assured that the joint verification would consider all the valid documents of the refugees.

The Bhutanese refugees were forcefully dropped at the eastern Nepalese border by Indian authorities after the Nepali-speaking citizens were evicted from Bhutan at Bhutanese Government’s gunpoint in the late 80’s and early 90’s.

Bhutan, under the banner of one nation, one people, resorted to ethnic cleansing in the late 80’s triggering the exodus of the Lhotsampas (Bhutanese from southern Bhutan) into Nepal.

Ever since Nepal and Bhutan have had 10 rounds of ministerial level talks. During the first round of talks in 1993 Nepal and Bhutan had agreed to categorise the refugees into four groups – Bonafide Bhutanese, Bhutanese who have emigrated, Bhutanese who have committed crimes, and Non-Bhutanese.

The talks got stonewalled in 1996 after Bhutan stood its ground that it would take back only the first category refugees. Nepal had asserted that Bhutan’s stand would leave the other three categories’ refugees as stateless people.

It was only in 1998 when the two nations resumed their talks on the protracted issue.

ADB contribution in Nepal’s development hailed

Kathmandu, Jan. 25 (RSS): President of the Asian Development Bank(ADB) Tadao Chino met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home and Local Development Ramchandra Poudel at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar today.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister’s office, matters of bilateral cooperation were discussed at the meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister Poudel appreciated adb’s economic and technical cooperation in Nepal’s socio-economic development and administrative reform efforts.

On the occasion, ADB President Chino described ADB as the bank for the poor and said that it is sincerely working for poverty alleviation. Which is why, he added, ADB should increase its investment in such areas as rural roads and electrification, local human resources development and institutional capacity building.

He also expressed happiness to have the opportunity to extend support in the economic development of Nepal, which is one of the ADB founder members.

Stating that ADB has given priority to investment in administrative reform for controlling corruption and establishing good governance, the ADB President said the positive outcome of the investment has encouraged the bank to further increase its assistance.

ADB West Division Deputy Director Rajat Nag, senior executive advisor to the President Hisasi Ano, ADB Resident Representative Richard Vokes, Local Development Secretary Udaya Raj Soti, Under Secretary at the Deputy Prime Minister’s office Laxmi Bilas Koirala and Under Secretary at the Finance Ministry Sriram Pant were also present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, President of the ADB Tadao Chino today called on CPN (UML) General Secretary and leader of the main opposition party in the House of Representatives Madhav Kumar Nepal at the Parliamentry Party Office in Singha Durbar.

According to the CPN (UML) central office, talks were held on matters of mutual interest, cooperation extended by the ADB in the development endeavours of Nepal and expansion of areas of cooperation in the coming days.

Similarly, President Chino paid a courtesy call on Chief Commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) Suryanath Upadhyaya at the latter’s office today.

On the occasion ADB President Chino said that ADB was interested in extending cooperation to CIAA as it plays a crucial role in establishing good governance in Nepal.

CIAA Chief Commissioner Upadhyaya said that ADB assistance was necessary to make the CIAA an effective body.

Mr Upadhyaya said CIAA is ready to carry out works for mutual cooperation between the two institutions.

CIAA acting secretary Khemraj Nepal and ADB Resident Representative Richard Vokes were also present on the occasion.

Likewise, Asian Development Bank President Tadao Chino today called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Shital Niwas.

On the occasion, consultations were held on the possibilities of the enhancement of sub-regional cooperation.

ADB President Chino said that ADB was interested in promoting mutual cooperation among Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan and identifying and implementing sub-regional level projects for the benefit of all the countries concerned.

On the occasion, Minister Bastola assured of Nepal’s active participation in enhancing sub-regional cooperation in line with its concept.

Indian classical dance performed in capital

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Jan. 25: On the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of Indian Council for Cultural Relations, the Kathmandu-based Embassy of India presented a classical dance performance "Ganga to Mekong—Swarnabhumi" by Madhavi Mudgal and her group at Royal Nepal Academy Hall this evening.

Mudgal, who is known for her refined sensibilities, perfection in stagecraft and presentation, has been associated with the making films and audio-visuals on Odissi as her medium of expression. She comes from a family of musicians devoted to furthering arts.

Talking to journalists here today, she said she was nurtured in the highest values of classicism from her childhood.

On the occasion of the 52th Republic Day of India, Indian Embassy will also present Solo Odissi dance performance and group dances in Odissi style by Mudgal and her group at Royal Nepal Academy Hall tomorrow evening.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of the 52th Anniversary of the Republic Day of India, Mrs. Purobi Mukharji, President of the Indian Women’s Club, donated four sewing machines and carom boards and 15 mattresses to the inmates, both women and men, of the Kathmandu district jail at Dilli Bazaar amidst a function yesterday (Wednesday).

Speaking at the function, Mukharji expressed the hope that the inmates would use the sewing machines to develop their skills, which could be helpful for them to ensure their economic security in the future.

The women inmates commended the gesture, which would enable them to employ their time in a beneficial way.

Appreciating the Welfare Committee of the Indian Women’s Club, jailer of the prison said that the items donated would be put to good use by present inmates, and be left in good condition for future use. He further expressed the hope that such co-operation would continue even in the future.