His Majesty felicitates

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 23: His Majesty the King has felicitated Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Brunei Darussalam on the occasion of the National Day of Brunei.

In a message, His Majesty the King has, on behalf of the people and the government of Nepal and on His Majesty’s own, extended cordial felicitations and best wishes for His Majesty the Sultan’s personal health and happiness as well as for the continued progress and prosperity of the people of Brunei.

His Majesty the King has also expressed the confidence that the friendly relations between the two Kingdoms will grow from strength to strength in the years to come.

Similarly, His Majesty the King has greeted Bharrat Jagdeo, President of the Co-Operative Republic of Guyana, on the occasion of the Republic Day of Guyana.

In a message, His Majesty the King has extended best wishes for the President’s personal health and happiness and for the progress and prosperity of the people of Guyana.

PM congratulates

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 23: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has extended sincere congratulations to Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah of Burnei on the occasion of the National Day of Brunei.

In a message, Prime Minister Chand wished good health and happiness to His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal and progress and prosperity to the people of Brunei.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has extended sincere congratulations to Samuel Hinds, Prime Minister of the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, on the occasion of the Republic Day of that country.In a message, Prime Minister Chand has wished Prime Minister hinds good health and happiness as well as progress and prosperity of the people of Guyana.

DPM, others visit ailing Yogi Narharinath

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: The health of Yogi Naraharinath is improving gradually.Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal, who is also handling the Prime Minister’s portfolio, Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Parasu Narayan Chaudhari, Minister for Health Dr. Upendra Devkota, member of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Dr. Swami Prapannacharya, principal private secretary of His Majesty the King Pashupati Bhakta Maharjan and other distinguished persons went to

Additional portfolio

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Agriculture and Co-Operatives and Local Development Badri Prasad Mandal will, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, assume the duties of the Prime Minister and will look after the portfolio of Royal Palace Affairs and Defence Ministry during the absence of Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand who left for Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, today leading the Nepali delegation at the 13th Non Aligned Movement (NAM) Summit to be held on 24 and 25 February.This is stated in a notice published today by the Press Secretariat of His Majesty the King.

Code of conduct being finalised for peace talks: Pun

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BUTWAL, Feb. 22: Minister for Physical Planning and Works Narayan Singh Pun has pointed out the need for collective efforts to transform the ceasefire into lasting peace.

Inaugurating the special national gathering organised by Nepal Tamu Students’ Association Central Committee here today, Minister Pun stressed that the ceasefire needs to be taken ahead more systematically.

Stating that the government and the Maoist both sides were doing home work to give final shape to the code-of-conduct in order to move ahead the peace talks, he said it is necessary to proceed the peace talks to a logical end in order to free the people from fear and terror.

At the programme presided over by president of the association Resham Tamu, K B Pun of the All Nepal Indigenous Community Conference, president of the Tamu Students’ Association Rupandehi district unit Maya Tamu and others also expressed their views.

The special Tamu Students’ Congress concludes tomorrow.Also in Butwal, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Gore Bahadur Khapangi has said that it is a matter of grave concern to write news on the basis of sheer guessing. Launching the monthly “Nava Gorkhali” at Butwal today, he said that as the peace process was moving ahead, none should be in a hurry in this regard and the problem would not be resolved by the barrels of guns. Stating that the King should not be blamed for the dissolution of the parliament by the then leaders in power, he said that only the people have the right to revive the parliament. President of Rupandehi district committee of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Hari Lamsal and publisher of the monthly Lok Bahadur Thapa also expressed their views on the occasion.

Likewise also today, Minister Khapangi, inaugurating the second general convention of Nepal Magar Women Association at Butwal, said that the government was making effort to resolve the problems of the oppressed and indigenous people and also of the women.

PM off to Kuala Lumpur for NAM summit

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand left for Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, today leading the Nepalese delegation to the Non Aligned Movement Summit to be held on 24 and 25 February.Talking briefly to the journalists at the VVIP bay of the Tribhuvan International Airport he said Nepal is committed to the Non Aligned Movement and during the Summit, discussion will be held to give continuity to the Non Aligned Movement in the present changed context.

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, Chairman of the National Assembly Dr. Mohammad Mohasin, Chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee Parashu Narayan Chaudhary, Deputy Prime Minister, Ministers, heads of the constitutional bodies and high ranking officials of His Majesty’s Government were present at the airport.Prime Minister Chand is scheduled to address the NAM summit on February 24.

Improved intersections ease capital's traffic

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: Minister for Physical Planning and Works Narayan Singh Pun and Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Zenji Kaminaga jointly inaugurated the project for improvement of intersections in Kathmandu at Kesharmahal this morning.

The work of the improvement of the busy intersection of the Kathmandu city and installation of traffic light system in Maitighar, Kalimati, Koteshwor, Tinkune, Padmodaya Secondary School Area, Koteshwor Chakrapath, New Baneshwor, Singhdurbar, Ramshahpath, Dillibazar and Kalankichowk was completed under the Japanese cooperation.

The project was completed at a cost of Rs. 620 million under the Japanese cooperation .

Obayashi Corporation under the consultation of the Nippon Co. of Japan has executed the project during the period of November 2001 to February 2003.

Inaugurating the project Minister Pun said Japan has made significant contributions in Nepal’s development and this will help further consolidate the friendly relations subsisting between the two countries.

Government has taken a policy to involve the private sector, local bodies, community organisations in the development related activities in the country and expressed the hope that Japan would provide such cooperation in the future.

Japanese Ambassador Zenji Kaminaga said Japanese government would continue to cooperate Nepal in its development efforts and expressed the confidence that the friendly relations between the two countries would be further strengthened in the future.

The improved intersections with advanced traffic light system operated by dual energy, electricity and solar, is already evident in the smooth and safe vehicular movement, he said.

People seem to be responding well to the changes and traffic seems to moving more efficiently. I understand that this project will certainly be able to address the problem of traffic congestion and minimise accidents including health hazards and air pollution of Kathmandu city to some extent, he added.

I sincerely believe that the continued support of the Japanese government to the government of Nepal in her development efforts will certainly help address the needs of the Kingdom of Nepal and contribute to strengthening further the cordial and cooperative relationship between the two countries, the Japanese ambassador said.

Pandey stresses on role of philately

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: Minister for Information and Communications Ramesh Nath Pandey has said that the philately has played important role in informing of the sacrifice and dedication made by the forefathers to the new generation.

Minister Pandey was speaking giving away medals and certificate of the National Postal Stamps Exhibition Nephil-2003 organised jointly by the Department of Postal Services and the Nepal Philatelic Society to mark the 53rd National Democracy Day.

He said that the exhibition had been successful in enhancing the knowledge on the tradition of the Shah Dynasty and the ancestors and introducing the glorious history to the new generation.
Minister Pandey pointed out the need to hold the philatelic exhibition outside also and not confine it only to the capital.

On the occasion, he gave away medals and certificates to 21 philatelic.

There are 21 contestants, 10 invitees and two from the society are also taking part in the exhibition that got underway on February 19 and will be held until tomorrow.

Likewise, he also launched a philatelic magazine published by the society on the occasion.

Convenor of the Jury Hardayal Singh Gupta and advisor to the society Ramesh Kumar Shrestha also expressed their views at the function chaired by its patron Omkar Prasad Gauchan.

Halt encroachment on heritage sites: UNESCO

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: A three-member top level mission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has asked the government to check the illegal constructions and encroachment upon heritage sites in the Kathmandu Valley.

“We need serious commitment of the government and necessary action plans for heritage conservation,” Tamas Fejerdy, Chairman of UNESCO’s World Heritage Committee, told a press conference organised by the Department of Archaeology here this morning. “The government must take immediate corrective measures to check illegal constructions in the heritage sites.”

Led by Dr. Tamas, the team made an on-the-spot observation of five out of the seven World Heritage Sites in the Valley. Francesco Bandarin, Director of the World Heritage Centre under the UNESCO and Ray Bondin, Executive Coordinator of the Rehabilitation Project, were the members of the team.
Dr. Tamas said the government has to effectively enforce laws and carry out monitoring regularly. “Nepal should step up time-bound measures besides ensuring long-term sustainability of heritage conservation efforts.”

He said the team was equally concerned about the deteriorating environment of the heritage sites.
Citing the deteriorating condition of the World Heritage Sites in the Kathmandu Valley, UNESCO has been showing serious concerns for a couple of years. It has been saying that Nepal’s efforts do not comply with the standards as enshrined by the International Conventions regarding heritage conservation.

In 1997, as its warning, UNESCO had recommended to the government to adopt a 55-point measure. Failing to respond to the measures could mean putting the heritage sites in the endangered list, which results in the curtailing of the assistance needed for the maintenance and preservation of the sites.
Responding to a question raised by journalists, Bandarin said that Nepal has made some important progress such as the forging of public-private partnership and formulating strong laws. “The government has done well from the tourism point of view.”

He commended the efforts made by the Patan Museum. He suggested that better construction materials be used in the maintenance of monuments. Talking about the financial constraints, he said the government has to generate resources and manage them in an effective manner.

Stressing on the need for generating massive public awareness about heritage conservation, Bondin said that programmes related to capacity building have to be conducted to involve the local people in conservation efforts.

Shova Shrestha, Acting Director General at the Department of Archaeology, said the budgetary problem has been the major hindrance. She said that significant efforts had been made in the field of heritage preservation from 1970 to 1980 as a lot of donors had extended support to the government. According to her, Nepal has been getting less assistance since the 1980s.

UNESCO has been providing technical, emergency and training assistance for the preservation of heritage sites. There are 10 UNESCO-listed World Heritage Sites in Nepal. Eight of them are cultural and two are natural heritage sites. The cultural sites are Kathmandu Durbar Square, Patan Durbar Square, Bhaktapur Durbar Square, Changu Narayan, Pashupati Nath Temple, Swayambhunath, and Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha. The two natural heritage sites — the Royal Chitwan National Park and Royal Sagarmatha National Park — have been listed in the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites.