HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Sinha supports action against extremists
Power projects to be expedited: Trade facilitation stressed

By Kishore Nepal

KATHMANDU, Aug. 24: The Indian Foreign Minister Yashwant Sinha has expressed satisfaction on his talks with Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka, and other political leaders on 'useful' issues.

He said that he had extensive discussion with the Nepalese leaders on bilateral economic issues. "India's relations with Nepal is very good, and I am encouraged by it," he said.

Speaking before the media today before departing home, Sinha reaffirmed India's support to the government of Nepal in the steps taken by it to maintain peace and security in the country.
Sinha said that India stands by Nepal in its efforts to face the challenges of the extremist forces. "India is ready to fulfill the physical needs of the Nepalese security forces."

"The Maoist terrorists wanted in Nepal and apprehended in India have been handed over to the Nepalese authorities," he said. The exchange of information on the terrorist activities has been made more organised and integrated, he said.

He said that the Indian army has shown special attention to curb terrorist activities against Nepal although there are a lot of difficulties because of the long and open border. "We will not allow any anti-Nepal activities from the Indian soil."

The Indian Foreign Minister also said that Nepal already has a firm commitment to curb anti-India activities in Nepal and there are many instances of the Nepalese government acting with determination and speed.

He said the thousands of Nepalese who have entered India because of the Maoist terror would soon be able to return home.

The relations between our two countries have developed on the basis of mutual respect to each other's sovereignty. "We always respect the sovereignty of Nepal," he said.

Commenting on the remarks that thousands of hours of talks on developing water resources between the two countries have remained fruitless, Sinha said, "We will take the hydro power projects to the implementation phase in the next hundred hours of talks."

The development of water resources would be a win-win situation for both Nepal and India, Sinha said and cited the example of India and Bhutan without naming the latter.

"If the water resources is to be developed, both the countries should create a situation where none of them feel themselves as a loser."

He said that he felt the agreed projects should not be kept lingering at the bureaucratic level. "If those issues could not be solved at the technical level, they should be taken to the political level," he said.
India attaches high priority to further developing its relations with Nepal, the Indian Foreign Minister said, adding that the recent visits of His Majesty the King and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba have served to further strengthen the understanding, trust and cooperation between our two countries.
He called the renewal of the trade treaty between the two countries as a success and said the government of India has agreed, on the Nepalese government's request, to enhance the import quota of copper products from Nepal by 33 per cent. India has also taken additional steps to streamline procedures to facilitate trade between the two countries in agro-products, he said.

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