NC (D) appoints department chiefs

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 26: The central working committee meeting of the Nepali Congress (Democratic) today has decided to appoint the chiefs of the party's central departments and eight chiefs for the 14 zones from among the central members in order to mobilise the party more vigorously.

The meeting has designated Prakash Man Singh as chief of the organisation department, Balkrishna Khand as chief of the co-ordination department, Purna Bahadur Khadka as chief of the parliamentary and local bodies department, Sagar Shumsher Rana as chief of the international relations department, Dr. Minendra Rijal as chief of the publicity department, Bimalendra Nidhi as chief of the policy and programmes department, Chitra Lekha Yadav as chief of the women's department, Amar Raj Kaini as chief of the training department, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat as chief of the research and evaluation department and Hom Nath Dahal as chief of the intellectual and professional department and the party spokesman.

Likewise, the meeting has designated Gopal Basnet, Harinath Banstola, Bidur Prasad Poudel, Hari Shankar Mishra, Ramesh Rijal, D.B. Lama, Mani Bhadra Sharma, Hari Prasad Nepal and Nabindra Raj Joshi as convenors for Mechi, Koshi, Sagarmatha, Janakpur, Narayani, Bagmati, Dhawalagiri and Lumbini zones and Kathmandu Valley respectively.

Similarly, the meeting has decided to constitute five committees at the centre in order to mobilise the party effectively regarding the party's policy and working policy related to the uplift of the indigenous nationalities and the oppressed and downtrodden communities and the problems concerning the education sector which constitute one of the major problems in the country and some 200,000 teachers working under it.

Party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, after holding consultations with the working committee members, nominated 21 individuals from among the general convention members to the working committee of the party as per the party constitution.

Those nominated to the working committee are Bal Bahadur KC, Purna Bahadur Khadka, Rishikesh Gautam, Balkrishna Khand, Basanta Kumar Gurung, Harinath Banstola, Tek Bahadur Chokhyal, Krishna Kumar Joshi, Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Dip Kumar Upadhyaya, Shiva Bahadur Khadka, Ramesh Rijal, Hari Shankar Mishra, Sagar Shumsher Rana, Tirtha Raj Sharma Chaitu, Dr. Narayan Khadka, Dr. Minendra Rijal, Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Harishankar Pariyar, Dr Rajaram Karki and Jip Tsering Sherpa.

The meeting has nominated former National Assembly member Dilli Prasad Sitaula from Jhapa the central president of Nepal Peasants Association. A press release issued by the Nepali Congress (Democratic) today states that the meeting held extensive discussions on the existing political, economic and social discriminations in the country. The central working committee members had expressed their respective views on the contemporary political situation in the country and on strengthening the party organisation at the meeting that lasted for three days.

Meanwhile, the Nepali Congress (Democratic) has deeply condoled the demise of Yogi Naraharinath, a scholar of Nepali language and literature, and a researcher of culture, history and archaeology who was also the patron of the World Hindu Federation.The meeting has prayed for eternal peace to the departed soul.

New NTUC board members elected

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BIRATNAGAR, Feb. 26: The third national general convention of Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) that concluded here Tuesday re-elected Laxman Bahadur Basnet as its national president.Likewise, Puskar Acharya has been elected senior vice-president, Achyut Pandey general secretary, Narayan Babu Karki (Eastern Region), Bhakta Bahadur Karki (Far Western Region) and Bharat Khanal (Central Region) as the three vice-presidents and Indra Dev Mishra (unanimous). Ramji Kunwar and Bam Bahadur DC were also elected as vice-presidents.Likewise, Ganesh Niroula was elected treasurer, Rajendra Acharya and Prem Singh Bohara deputy general secretaries, Seeta Khanal, Sudha Dahal, Madhu Sharma, Uma Ghimire and Manju Sharma as the five women members and the 10 members are Tejendra Jung Karki, Jaya Bahadur Chand, Bhogendra Jha, TP Khanal, Mohan Basnet, Ramesh Chalise, Laxmi Narayan Mishra, Surya Nepal, Mahendra Prasad Yadav and Dilip Man Singh Rajbhandari.

RONAST, Italian Research Council sign agreement

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 26: The bilateral technical committee meeting between Royal Nepal Academy for Science and Technology (RONAST) and the National Research Council of Italy was held here today in connection with the bilateral agreement to exchange cooperation in the science and technology sector.

Vice-Chancellor of RONAST Prof. Dr Dayananda Bajracharya led the Nepali side in the meeting while Dr Renato Baudo led the Italian side. The meeting today approved 11 scientific projects including 8 projects running between 2000 and 2002 and three new ones and the six projects already approved by the Nepali side.

Scientists of both the countries will participate in all the approved project proposals. Also approved at the meeting was running of various types of training aimed at expanding scientific and technical capacity.

As per the agreement reached between RONAST and the National Research Council of Italy, joint study and research is being held in the field of medicine, science, environment science, geology, biology and technology.

'Bigger parties should help to make talks successful'

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TANAHU, Feb. 26: Assistant Minister for Education and Sports Rabindra Khanal has said that the bigger political parties which like to call themselves protectors of the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 are involved in defaming the Constitution and Monarchy.

He made this remark while accepting the cash amount received as relief assistance for the fire victims of Myanglung, Terhathum at a programme organised by Vyas Municipality here today. Stating that it is the responsibility of the bigger political parties also to make the peace talks successful for the establishment of durable peace in the country, Khanal said Nepal and the Nepalese could both come under crisis if the responsible political parties forget their duty.

At the function, chief of Vyas Municipality Krishna Prasad Khanal handed over to Minister Khanal Rs. 6,844 received as contribution of a day's salary by the employees of the municipality.

Also today, Assistant Minister Khanal inspected the under-construction International School of Jenin and Intelligent and attended the 31st anniversary of Bhanu Lower Secondary School, Dhumsi.
Likewise, Khanal answered queries from journalists at a Face-to-Face programme organised by the Reporters' Club, Tanahu.

NAM summit concludes with ways for debt relief

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 26: The 13th summit conference of the non-aligned nations held in Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia, has concluded with new programmes (ways) for debt relief to the poor countries.

A declaration on economic programmes issued after the two-day summit meeting in Kuala Lumpur expresses concern over the growing indebtness of developing countries and the realisation of the loans.

The leaders of the non-aligned nations also urged the developed countries to provide developing countries access to tariff-free markets. They requested the international community to create a multi-sectoral mechanism on international financing for promoting the economic growth rate of developing countries.

According to the international news agency AFP, the leaders of the non-aligned countries called for inclusion of the developing countries in the world economic decision process for maintaining a proportional international economic system.

One hundred and sixteen countries are members of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM).
The NAM summit also projected Africa as the continent needing the most assistance stating that the reduced Official Development Aid (ODA) and foreign investment in Africa has made the continent's economic situation uncertain.