Brussels' Support

PRIME Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's stop in Brussels appears to have succeeded in garnering support from Belgium as well as the European Commission in Nepal's fight against terrorism. His Monday meeting with Belgium Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt and the Tuesday meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Louis Michel have resulted in Belgium's reiteration of support for the government's efforts in fighting terrorism and preserving constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy. Continued support to Nepal's socio-economic development was also assured. The expression of support followed Mr. Deuba's briefing to his hosts on conditions in Nepal where, as Mr. Deuba put it, democracy was fighting against terrorism. His meetings with European Commission President Romano Prodi and European parliamentarians in Brussels were no less productive. After Mr. Deuba thanked EC for the moral and political support extended to Nepal in her fight against terrorism and for the preservation of constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy in Nepal, Mr. Prodi was categorical in EC's support for Nepal's efforts in preserving democracy and human rights and reiterated EC's continued cooperation for the socio-economic development of Nepal, including support for Nepal's accession to the World Trade Organisation. Prime Minister Deuba's call for an enhanced level of cooperation from the international community, including the European Union, in combating terrorism and improving the socio-econmic conditions of the Nepali people, must be seen as a request born out of a necessity to garner sufficient resources if the fight against terrorism is to fully and swiftly succeed. The government's total commitment to democracy, human rights and fundamental freedom, rule of law and good governance must make it easier for European Union to consider to increase its support to Nepal both in relation to fighting the scourge of terrorism as well as combating poverty.

In this context, the expressions of support from the European parliamentarians to Mr. Deuba in their luncheon meeting Tuesday were also notable. They expressed the hope that the forthcoming general election would help consolidate democratic process in Nepal and expressed their support in ensuring human rights and fundamental freedom within the democratic framework. European Commission, which has only also established its office in Kathmandu recently, is Nepal's important development partner. Its reiteration of support to Nepal in resolution of the problems it is facing comes as an indication of the importance it attaches to its relationship with Nepal, a fact that bodes well for Nepal's effort to gain further international support to its present mission of combating terrorism and expanding development cooperation.

Easing WTO Entry

AT time when the entire world has turned into a global village due mainly to the advancement in science and technology, no country whether it is developing or developed, can remain isolated from any global organisation. Nepal, one of the least developed countries that has to fully depend on international aid for its development activities cannot be an exception in this regard. This is the reason why Nepal has been showing her keen interest to join WTO right from its inception some eight years ago. Despite a low-level economy and other pertinent problems, Nepal is steadily preparing to join the WTO. In this respect, Minister for Industries, Commerce and Supply Purna Bahadur Khadka the other day informed representatives of diplomatic missions in Kathmandu about Nepal's ongoing preparations to join the global organisation. On the occasion Minister Khadka also explained about Nepal's present position and preparations being made for the second round of negotiations being held in Geneva in September.

Certainly, Nepal like many other countries, has no option rather than joining the WTO to make her presence felt in the global trade. For this, Nepal need to lobby for strong support from WTO member countries to promote trade with them, for which Nepal, according to Ministry sources, will initiate bilateral talks with the concerned countries. Minister Khadka did not forget to urge ambassadors and other foreign representatives present on Tuesday's programme to extend their support to Nepal's endeavour to join the WTO. Undoubtedly, the development partners would be ahead in supporting Nepal's process for WTO entry in the Geneva meeting like they did during the Brussels and Doha meetings. However, the Nepalese side, which has been expressing its full commitment to the WTO provision since beginning, should also urge the member countries to make some of the WTO provisions more flexible so as to ease the entry of the least developed countries like Nepal. Indeed, for a poor and resource-crunched country like Nepal, where the industrialisation process is at the initial stage, it is always difficult to meet all the provisions set by economically and industrially advanced country. While demanding for the smooth path to WTO, Nepal should never ignore the interest of the small-scale industries and the possible difficulties they may face after Nepal's entry to WTO.