Govt awards 17 civil servants for good work

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 31: The government, for the first time, awarded 17 civil servants for their good work during the fiscal year 2057/58 B.S.

The awards were announced as per the Civil Service Regulations of 2050 B.S. and in line with this fiscal year’s budget provision to enhance motivation of employees.

The Council of Ministers decided a month ago on three categories of awards for employees for doing better in their work.

The government has recognised 5 of its senior officers with the Excellent Civil Service Award which carries of purse of Rs. 100,000 each.

The awardees in this category are Madhav Prasad Ghimire, Joint Secretary at the Finance Ministry, Lokendra Lal Rajbhandari, Undersecretary at the Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, Prem Kumar Rai, Undersecretary at the Ministry of General Administration, Kedar Bahadur Adhikary, Deputy Auditor General at the Office of the Auditor General and Tanka Mani Sharma, Undersecretary at the Ministry of Health.

Likewise, 12 employees have been honoured with the Civil Service Award of Rs. 50,000 each. The recipients in this category are: Dr. Birbal Rana, meteorologist at the Ministry of Science and Technology, Jagat Bahadur Khadka, Section Officer at the National Planning Commission Secretariat, Shiva Raj Upadhyaya, government prosecutor in Darchula district, Shyamkrishna Chitrakar, senior mechanic at the Parliamentary Secretariat, Hari Prasad Bidari, a non-gazetted officer at the Ministry of Labour and Transport Management, Tulsi Ram Rijal, accountant, District Administration Office, Pyuthan, and Balram Giri, typist at the Supreme Court.

Similarly, Ms. Chandra Shrestha, technical assistant at the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control, Sanu Bhai Silwal, typist at the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Keshav Prasad Pokharel, non-gazetted fourth class at Central Post Office, Shyam Kumar Acharya, non-gazetted third class at District Administration Office Rolpa and Prem Raj Sharma, typist at disrict administration office Rukum.

However, the Best Civil Service Award, which carries a purse of Rs. 200,000, is given to one civil servant every year for outstanding performance at work, has not been announced for this year.

Foreign secretaries review GEP report, SAPTA progress

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 31: The 27th session of the Standing Committee (SC) of the South Asian foreign secretaries continued to discuss the issues and agenda put forth by the programming committee of SAARC and other institutions under the regional body.

"The delegates discussed extensively on ways to find out permanent solutions to problems including terrorism, poverty, which have been a daunting challenge for the South Asian humanity, the report of the Group of Eminent Persons (GEP) and effective implementation of the conventions and agreements made among the member countries in the past," explained Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affaris (MoFA) and SAARC Spokesperson Pushkar Rajbhandari while talking to the press.

The SC meeting today discussed about the need for including terrorism in the national legislation of the member countries so that the present-day global evil could be addressed from grassroots.

"The meeting also discussed the issue of effective implementation of the convention on terrorism and banning of the smuggling of narcotics and drugs since these were the problems creating a havoc not only in South Asia but the world over," Spokesperson Rajbhandari said.

The meeting also discussed on the future vision of SAARC, a report prepared and submitted by GEP, which the 9th Summit of SAARC in Male had established in 1997 for recommending a comprehensive mechanism to further vitalise the activities of the regional body.

The SC meeting also reviewed the progress about the implementation of SAFTA, transition from SAPTA to SAFTA and other issues on regional economy.

The Spokesperson also informed that while discussing about regional economy, Nepal proposed to host the 4th SAARC Fair in 2002.

The meeting also reviewed the progress of SAARC with WIPO, the international body overseeing patent rights.

Earlier, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between SAARC and United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) at the presence of all the foreign secretaries of SAARC today. The SAARC Secretary General Nihal Rodrigo and regional director of UNIFEM Chandani Joshi signed the MoU on behalf of their respective institutions. The two Organisations will work together for a period of five years in a bid to promote and empower women of South Asia.

Spokesperson Rajbhandari also informed about the issues to be discussed tomorrow. "There will be consultations regarding economic co-operation, South Asia’s progress with WTO, tourism cooperation, SAARC Japan Special Fund, SAARC’s economic diplomacy with European Union, UNIC, WHO and UNCTAD.

The Spokesperson said that the foreign secretaries will also be discussing tomorrow about enhancing ‘People to People Contact’ in the region.

After the end of deliberations tomorrow, the foreign secretaries of the South Asian nations will prepare a detailed report to facilitate the SAARC Council of Ministers’ meeting slated to begin from Wednesday.

Abdul Sattar in capital

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 31: Pakistani Minister for External Affairs Abdul Sattar arrived here this afternoon for attending the Council of Minister’s meeting which will be held prior to the beginning of the 11th SAARC Summit. Bhutanese Foreign Minister Lynopo Jigmi Y. Thinley had arrived in the Nepalese capital Sunday. Foreign Ministers of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Indai and The Maldives are expected to be here by tomorrow.

PM to initiate world Mountain Year today

Kathmandu, Dec. 31 (RSS): Nepal is all set to initiate International Year of Mountain, 2002 in keeping with the announcement of the UN to mark 2002 as International Mountain Year across the world.

Premier Sher Bahadur Deuba is scheduled to initiate International Year of Mountain (IMY) 2002 by announcing a botanical garden at Daman in Makwanpur tomorrow and take part in an afforestation programme to he held there as part of the programme designed to mark International Year of Mountain, this is disclosed at a press conference organised by the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation here today.

Similarly, a special function will be held in Kathmandu on the second day of January to mark the golden jubilee of the founding of the Department of Forests, core area under Sagarmatha National Park declared in the near future, an exhibition on eco-tourism held under the convenorship of Nepal Tourism Board and special programmes held at the district level at the initiative of District Forests Office.

Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Gopal Man Shrestha said that International Mountain Year (IMY) has a special significance for Nepal where over 70 per cent of land areas has been covered by mountains and 8 out of 12 tallest peaks in the world lie here.

Sustainable development can be achieved and poverty alleviated through the proper use of such natural heritage, he said, adding that Nepal considers it an good opportunity for its development.

A press release issued in the conference states that International Year of Mountain 2002 aims at bringing about prosperity of the communities living in the mountain area and for their brighter future, ensuring conservation of ecology, protecting and promoting cultural traditions of such communities.

An eight-member national coordination committee has been formed under the convenorship of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and a nine-member working committee under the convenorship of secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Soil-conservation to mark the International Year of Mountain, the release reads.

NTB for physical facilities

Kathmandu, Dec. 31 (RSS): Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) organised a press conference here today and furnished information on the tasks performed by it for the promotion of international tourism, seeking out domestic destinations for tourists and the improvement of the physical facilities.

In the three years since the inception of NTB, tourism entrepreneurs including travel and tour operators have visited l0 foreign countries including India, USA, Japan, France and Britain where most of the tourists coming to Nepal originate and highlighted the tourist spots in Nepal, distributed tourism material in eight languages and carried out advertising through the Royal Nepalese Embassies in those countries.

The NTB also invited foreign travel writers and journalists and introduced them to tourism destinations in the country. Various important tourist destinations were introduced through CD-ROM also.

Festivals were held at the potential tourism sites, and coordination was effected through local bodies for the sustainable development of these areas to boost internal tourism, it was stated by NTB.

NTB executive chairman Pradip Raj Pandey said that his organisation had been laying emphasis on the promotion of international tourism, but because of national and international developments, the results were far below expectations.

Stating that 376,000 tourists visited Nepal in the year 2000 whereas the number for 2001 was 298,066 as of 30 December, he said internal tourism was encouraged to save the tourism industry.

At the press conference, directors of the board Tek Bahadur Dangi, Susbash Niraula and Kanchan Joshi spoke of the manpower situation and financial and administrative aspects of the board.

SAARC meet to create congenial atmosphere

Kathmandu, Dec. 31 (RSS): Various politicians and diplomats are confident that despite internal and bilateral problems, the llth SAARC Summit being hosted in Kathmandu will create a congenial environment for peace and development in the region.

According to them, though tensions and disputes have reached a climax, Nepal could play a remarkable role in reducing these and ensuring that the member countries focus on areas of mutual interest.

At a face to face programme hosted by the Reporters Club Nepal here today, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh said that at the summit Nepal will fix the time frame for SAFTA and would be ready for a treaty.

Stating that the summit will sign the convention against girl trafficking and for child welfare, he said emphasis will be laid on implementation of the convention on terrorism signed in 1987 and on making the SAARC secretariat more effective.

Leader of the CPN-UML KP Sharma Oli said that the 11th summit should focus on taking forward the common effort for peace and development in South Asia in accordance with the concept of regional cooperation.

Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa said that the development of the region is possible and SAARC will be able to justify its role only if the natural resources and heritage of South Asia are developed and ties expanded at the people's level.

Former minister for foreign affairs Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani said that unless the rivalry between India and Pakistan, the two powerful countries of South Asia, can be reduced, peace and stability could not be achieved in the SAARC region and therefore other member countries should also emphasise resolving bilateral issues.

Diplomat Dr. Jayaraj Acharya said that it is because of the success of Nepal's diplomacy that the SAARC Summit is being hosted in the country even in the present difficult situation.

Reporters Club president Rishi Dhamala presided over the programme.

Security forces kill 11 terrorists

Kathmandu, Dec. 31 (RSS): Security forces yesterday shot dead 11 Maoist terrorists, arrested 16 others including two suspects, and seized a huge amount of arms used by the terrorists in different parts of the country, according to the Defense Ministry.

Nine terrorists were killed on the spot in an exchange of fire between the security personnel and Maoist terrorists at Naubasta area in Kailali, Banke district. Security personnel seized guns, socket bombs and documents belonging to terrorists from the site.

In an encounter with terrorists at Chhepetar area of Gorkha district, security personnel killed squad commander of the terrorist group Mahendra Marhatta alias Samir on the spot. A pistol and some bullets in possession of the deceased were seized.

Likewise, security personnel seized two 303 guns, rifle bullets, one sackful of socket bombs and various police equipment looted by the terrorists during an operation in Solukhumbu district.

Also yesterday, six terrorists in possession of some guns, bombs, combat dresses and explosives were arrested from change area of Taplejung district.

In a similar operation at Ghartigaon area of Rolpa district, security personnel have seized 12 guns, some bombs, explosives and police equipment earlier looted by the terrorists.

Likewise, an operation at Talagang area in the same district led to the seizure of nine guns, some bombs, materials that can be used in making bombs and documents belonging to the terrorists. Two terrorists have also been arrested from the jungle at Budhagaon.

Security personal on patrol yesterday defused three improvised bombs placed by terrorists in Harmibhanjyang area of Gorkha district.

Security personnel also arrested five terrorists--three from Tulsipur, Dang and two from Kathmandu-- yesterday.

Three suspects--one from Kihun, Syangja and two from Solukhumbu-- have been arrested.

Poverty central concern to SAARC nations: Fernando

Kathmandu, Dec. 31 (RSS): Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka Tyronne Fernando has said in the background of the current unsettled global political and economic situation, our deliberations in the 11th SAARC Summit this year have a special significance and importance.

In a special interview given to Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), Fernando made it clear that though the summit has been somewhat delayed, a broad agenda will be discussed.

Stating that poverty is a central concern to SAARC as the region counts the largest number of poor in the world, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister noted that we need to do more as a region to achieve positive results in this area which has been dubbed as "the most formidable developmental challenge" for the region.

SAARC is committed to encouraging the participation of the private sector and to promote regional cooperation in the spirit of public-private sector partnership, he added.

SAARC has agreed to cooperate in the core areas of trade, finance and investment and the objective of such cooperation is to maximise the benefits of globalisation while guarding against the negative impacts on the region, he said, adding that already we have a strategy for SAARC to consult together in vital international negotiations such as the World Trade Organisation or WTO.

Noting that SAARC has also identified the immense potential of South Asia as a tourism destination and is looking into infrastructure and procedural needs to harness this potential for the benefit of the people of the region, Fernando made it clear that we have already established a practice of regular consultations between SAARC and other regional organisations such as EU and ASEAN and arrived at a common strategy before the recent WTO negotiations at Doha.

In response to a question, the Sri Lankan Foreign Minister made it clear that SAARC recognises the need to accord special and favorable treatment to the smaller and the least developed economies in the process of establishing SAFTA, to realise the objective of equitable distribution of trade and benefits to all states.

Asked what measures each member country should take to help the dream of SAARC materialise, he said, "we feel that it is important for such summits to take place annually, for our leaders to meet and renew their common aspirations and charter strategies towards a peaceful and prosperous region."

These annual summits also enable a useful review of on-going programmes, to make revisions where necessary and add new areas for joint collaborations, in line with popular aspirations, he noted.

Reiterating that the economic and social development in each member state is a fundamental pre-requisite for successful regional cooperation, Fernando remarked that SAARC has already envisioned an ambitious economic programme moving from a preferential trade area, to a free trade area and eventual South Asian Economic Union.

Responding to another question in connection with SAARC membership to Afghanistan, he observed that it is only recently that agreement has been reached on the transitional arrangements for a new government in Afghanistan and the immediate objectives of it will be to consolidate the political and security arrangements and to also enable the international reconstruction programme to go ahead in the most expeditious manner, and so the question appears premature.