Crown Prince inaugrates exhibition

Kathmandu, Mar. 7 (RSS): His Royal Highness Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev inaugurated "Euphoria" the fifth solo photo exhibition of artist Pradeep Yonzon amidst a function here today.

On the occasion, His Royal Highness inspected the photos on display there.

Thirty photos reflecting Nepalese art and culture are on display at the exhibition organised by Chomolungma UNESCO Centre under the sponsorship of Soaltee Crown Plaza.

On the occasion, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Omkar Shrestha expressed the confidence that this kind of exhibition would help enhance the glory of Nepal in the world.

Chomolumgma UNESCO Centre president Haribansha Kirant said photography is linked with human society one way or other and the exhibition is an attempt to present the Nepalese photography before the world.

Soaltee Crown Plaza chairman Prabhakar Rana also expressed his views.

The exhibition will last till March 14.

PM presents rock of Mt. Everest to Paris Museum

Paris, Mar. 7 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today presented a piece of rock from Mt Everest, the highest mountain of the world, to the Natural History Museum in Paris amid a function.

Prime Minister Koirala handed over the rock to director of The Museum's Geology Department Blandin.

On the occasion, director Blandin was also presented with a video cassette on Mt Everest.

At the function, Prime Minister Koirala introduced Wangchu Sherpa, two time Everest summiter, who is also a member of the entourage.

On the occasion, Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola, Minister for Finance Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to France Indra Bahadur Singh, principal private secretary to the Prime Minister, Hari Sharma, high ranking HMG officials and other entourage members were also present.

Dinner hosted in honour of PM

Paris, Mar. 7 (RSS): French Minister of State for Heritage and Cultural Decentralisation Michael Defor hosted a dinner in honour of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs here Tuesday evening.

On the occasion, Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola and French Minister of State Defort expressed their views on cultural and political relations between the two countries.

Also present on the occasion were Finance Minister Dr Ramsharan Mahat, the Prime Minister's daughter Sujata Koirala, the Prime Minister's principal private secretary Hari Sharma, high ranking HMG officials and media persons.

The Nepalese business delegation led by FNCCI president were also present.

Women's participation poor in civil service

Kathmandu, Mar. 7 (RSS): Nepalese women have been deprived of property rights and there are only 21 women MPs in the parliament out of 265 members including the House of Representatives and the National Assembly .

In civil service there are only 2 women out of 41 special class employees and 24 women in gazetted first class out of 604.

In the gazetted second class there are 113 out of 2,356 and 348 out of 6,513 in third class.

Similarly, there are 1,200 women out of 16, 353 non gazetted first class

The women's literacy rate is 30 percent and average life expectancy 53.5. And Nepalese women are mother of five children on average.

The 91st international women's day is being celebrated in Nepal with the slogan 'where the welfare of the daughter, there the victory of the society'.

Women had raised their first voice in 1910 March 8 for educational, social economic and political rights.

The women of China, Brazil, Dominican Republic and the United States of America had thought over the treatment on women by organising for the first time as the women were far behind in every sector than males because of unequal treatment.

The United Nations had also approved its charter saying the women and male should be equal on its principle in 1945.

The commission was constituted in 1946, the equal wages convention was approved in 1951, the convention on political rights to giving voting rights was approved. In 1957 the women citizenship convention was approved, and in 1960 the professional discrimination elimination and in 1967 internal decisions including all types of discriminations.

Cooperation agreement signed

Paris, Mar. 7 (RSS): The Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Mouvement Des Enterprises De France (MEDEF) signed a cooperation agreement in the presence of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala here this morning.

The agreement was signed by FNCCI president Pradip Kumar Shrestha and MEDEF president M. Francois Xavier.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Prime Minister Koirala said the signing of the agreement has opened up new vistas for trade relations between Nepal and France and for better interaction between the business communities of the two countries.

He highlighted Nepal-France economic relations and urged the business communities of both countries to properly utilize the opportunity to promote trade relations.

Describing poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development as the main objectives of Nepal's economic policy, Prime Minister Koirala said pursuant to these objectives, His Majesty's Government has adopted a liberal economic policy.

Stating that the government has made arrangements for attracting foreign investment to the country, he urged French investors to benefit from such arrangements.

On the occasion, Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat and Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Bastola responded to queries from various French businessmen, who sought information about existing infrastructures and policies on water resources, communications, tourism, agro-business and investment in Nepal.

FNCCI president Pradip Kumar Shrestha and MEDEF president M. Francois Xavier expressed the belief that the agreement will help promote Nepal-France trade relations.

Peace keepers return

Kathmandu, Mar. 7 (RSS): The first batch of the 39th contingent Sri Bhairavnath Battalion (peace force) on peace keeping assignment with UNIFIL Lebanon in the middle east at the call of the United Nations returned here today after completing its term.

The batch led by assistant battalion commander Major Kiran Bahadur Thapa comprises 234 officers, JCO's and other ranks.

Similarly, the first batch of the 40th contingent Srijung Battalion (peace force) deputed to replace the Sri Bhairabnath Battalion left here for Lebanon today.

The batch led by battalion commander Lt. Col. Tajman Singh Basnyat comprises 246 officers, JCO's and other ranks.

Courtesy call

Kathmandu, Mar. 7 (RSS): Ambassador of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea Kim Thae Jung today paid a courtesy call on Raj Parishad Standing Committee Chairman Dr. Keshur Jung Rayamajhi at the latter's residence at Baluwatar and held discussions on matters concerning bilateral relations.

Information centre on HR suggested

Kathmandu, Mar. 7 (RSS): The meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives here today decided to suggest to HMG to make provisions for an information centre on the state of human rights in the country.

The meeting also decided to invite concerned officials including the minister for water resources and the secretary to the committee meeting on March 17 in order to clarify HMG's views in connection with embankment building and the work that has been done by the Nepal-India Joint Committee on water resources as well the Laxmanpur Dam and embankment.

The meeting was presided over by committee chairman Som Prasad Pandey.