HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

PM rules out engaging foreign troops to curb terrorism

From Lok Deep Thapa

Kolkata, Mar. 24: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, on the eve before he winds up his India visit, termed his meeting with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee and other Indian dignitaries as "very much satisfactory."

"There is tremendous goodwill towards Nepal and Nepalese issues," Prime Minister Deuba said and added "feels good" about the outcome of his official goodwill tour of India.

When asked what specific security agreements had been made with India, the Nepalese Prime Minister replied that India had committed itself to give "arms and logistic support" to Nepal in its effort to control terrorism. However, PM Deuba ruled out the possibility of any foreign troops coming into Nepal.

"No, no,......no foreign troops, "he said, when querried if there was any possibility of such a seenario. He also expressed satisfaction about the full assurance given by India not to allow its territory to be used by terrorists against Nepal.

Referring to the dry port constructed by Nepal at a great cost with loans from the World Bank, Prime Minister Deuba appreciated the fact that India had shown keen interest to make this port operational. "It has to be made operational very soon," he said. The operation of the dry port at Birgunj would not only facilitate Nepal traders tremendously, it would also considerably bring down the cost of goods going out and coming into Nepal.

At the moment Nepalese goods are mostly shipped through two parts in Kolkata. The joint press statement of the Prime Ministers has mentioned they have ‘directed that within the next two months, the two sides should hold negotiations and conclude the bilateral agreement on the operation of the Birgunj-Raxaul rail-link and the Inland Container Depot (ICD or dry port at Birgunj.

When asked about the rumours that he may meet representatives of Maoist terrorists while in Kolkata, Prime Minister Deuba flatly ruled out the possibility of any such thing happening. "I have termed them as terrorists, as illegal. How can I meet them?" he questioned. However, he stated that he was here in the eastern port city of India to control the Maoist terrorists. "I have come here to control them, not see them," he said. He revealed that he will raise this issue while meeting the West Bengal Chief Minister Budhadev Bhattacharya tomorrow (Monday)

When querried about the slackness in implementing the political understandings reached between the political leaders on a bilateral basis, PM Deuba said he will personally monitor the follow up of things. "I myself will pay attention to these issues," he said.

Prime Minister Deuba is returning home to Kathmandu tomorrow morning after concluding his six day long official goodwill visit to India.

Meanwhile talking exclusively with this correspondent, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Arjun Jung Bahadur Singh expressed the belief that the goodwill visit to India by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, has been extremely successful in bringing an understanding at the highest level on ways to resolve the problems, both "big and small", between Nepal and India.

"The leaders of both the sides came to an understanding that all the problems should be solved in time, and in an open and friendly manner, the Minister of State said while taking to this correspondent just a day before PM Deuba winds up his India visit.

Minister of State Singh was of the opinion that the understanding reached between the Nepali and Indian Prime Ministers, not to allow their respective territories to be used for activities inimical to the interest of the other, was in itself a manifestation of the goodwill the two neighbours have for one another. "As the Maoist terrorist problem has becomes a major issue for Nepal, this problem was also discussed during the talks and the Indian side condemned the Maoist violence," he said.

Pointing out that Prime Minister Deuba had held talks on a host of issues ranging from the Kalapani to the inundation problem in Nepal with his Indian counterpart, Minister of State Singh expressed satisfaction that understanding had been reached on many issues, as has already been mentioned in the joint press statement of the two PMs.

Talking about the Science and Technology agreement signed between Nepal and India, Singh revealed that work on the establishment and construction of an Institute of Technology in Nepal would began as soon as we find land.

Earlier Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa expressed the opinion that the official goodwill visit to India by Prime Minister Deuba has been successful in forging better understanding between the two neighbours.

"Coming as it did when both Nepal and India were going through troubling times, the goodwill visit has achieved a lot in creating a better understanding of each other’s problems," Dr. Thapa told journalists accompanying the PM. In spite of the age-old cordial ties between the two culturally, socially and religiously inter-linked neighbours, some "uneasiness had crept into the warm ties because of several events in the recent past, said Thapa. "The PM’s visit has been able to smoothen such bumps in the bilateral relations, because problems were discused in an open and friendly manner," he said.

However, envoy Thapa expressed concern over the fact that the implementation of different agreements reached at the political level was not satisfactory. "This could be because of our own weakness or due to indifference," he said. Thapa was also of the opinion that such failures at the bureaucratic level had a negative impact on the minds of the general people.

Replying to questions, he strongly stated that Nepal’s Prime Minister does not need to go anywhere else to meet other Nepalese who may have different political and other beliefs. "The land within Nepal is enough for this," he said.

Talking about the terrorist problem Nepal has been suffering for some years now, envoy Thapa expressed the opinion that Nepal does not want to take its troubles outside or seek outside interference to resolve its problems, including terrorist activities.

"However, because of the almost 1,700 km long open border we share with India, we have been compelled to talk of the terrorist problem with India, as the terrorists in Nepal and India are taking advantage of the open border situation," Thapa said.

He also pointed out the firm commitment made by both the Prime Minister of Nepal and India that they would not allow each other’s territory to be used for terrorist activities. "How higher can such an understanding go?" questioned Thapa and went on to express confidence that others too would be inspired to work more sincerely and actively to implement such agreements.

Ambassador Thapa also informed that the Indian PM had clearly stated he would not allow any damage to be done in the Lumbini area due to the construction of an Indian dam downstream.

Thapa also denied allegations that the present trip had been arranged in a hurry. "We knew four months before the trip would take place, he informed.

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