HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Nepal called for responding to LDCs' needs at NAM: PM

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb. 27: Nepal called for special international attention to respond to the needs of the least developed countries (LDCs) in the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Kuala Lumpur, said Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand who returned home from the meet Thursday.

Chand, who led high level Nepalese delegation to the 13th NAM summit in the Malaysian capital, said that Nepal had emphasised that all the members of the movement should unite to achieve the shared goal of peace, security, development and justice.

"Nepal clearly voiced that terrorism should be contained without any compromise to ensure world peace," the Prime Minister told journalists upon arrival at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Prime Minister Chand addressed the two-day summit on the first day on February 24. Elaborating Nepal's views expressed during the address to the 116-nation summit, the Prime Minister said, "We viewed that the United Nations need to be strengthened to revitalise the non-aligned movement."
Nepal is one of the founding members of the NAM founded in September 1961 in Belgrade opting for neutral stance at a time when there were two global power blocs. The numbers of its members reached 116 after entry of East Timor and St. Vincent and the Grenadines during this summit.
Meanwhile, RSS adds: All major political, economic, social and other events and situations in the contemporary world have been analysed and NAM's common views regarding these have been expressed in the Kuala Lumpur Declaration issued at the conclusion of the summit, he said. He added that the declaration pledges to work with determination for making peace, security, justice, equality, democracy and development in consonance with the multilateral international relations system based on the principles of sovereignty, territorial integrity, political independence, people's right of self-decision and non-interference as enshrined in the UN Charter and international law.
Stating the 'Kuala Lumpur Declaration' as a concrete achievement of the 13th NAM conference in terms of reinstating NAM back into the political and social map of the world, Prime Minister Chand said the declaration incorporates the conclusions arrived at the various ministerial level meetings. The conference has charted out the timely measures and necessary steps required for reviving the NAM.
Chand said the Kuala Lumpur Declaration also spells out positive commitments to make a healthy analysis and assessment of the NAM's views on international issues, reforming NAM's organisation and working procedures, implement and follow up on various international commitments, expand and intensify South-South cooperation, assist international programmes related to Africa, the least developed countries and the developing land-locked countries and creating a multilateral world environment through the consolidation of the UN system.

Stating that while in Kuala Lumpur he had met and held talks with the leaders of various countries, he said during his meeting with the Malaysian Prime Minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad, talks were held on matters of mutual interest as well as on topics on making institutional arrangements for the welfare of Nepalis working in Malaysia.

Likewise, referring to his meetings with the heads of state and government and the foreign ministers of the SAARC countries, the Prime Minister said during meetings with them discussions were held on matters pertaining to organisation of the SAARC summit at the earliest as well as on matters of mutual interest.

Matters of mutual and bilateral interests, regional interests as well as Nepal's contemporary political situation, especially the peace process initiated by His Majesty's Government, figured in talks with Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee of India, he added.

Prime Minister Chand further said discussions were held on matters of mutual interest with the Prime Ministers of Thailand and Laos also.

Nepal has become successful in registering its active participation at NAM by taking part in the 13th NAM Summit, the Prime Minister said and added that Nepal getting elected as one of the vice-chair at the conference also underscored this fact.

Chand said that he felt his visit to Malaysia has been fruitful in terms of consolidating Nepal's relations with its neighbours and other countries in the region as well as in giving continuity to Nepal's foreign policy which constitutes one of the five directives issued to the present Council of Ministers by His Majesty the King.

He said the 13th NAM conference also decided to hold its 14th summit conference in 2006 in Cuba.
Replying a question, the Prime Minister said all the leaders in the world wished that peace prevail in Nepal.

He also disclosed on the occasion that a Royal Nepalese Embassy at the consular level would be opened in Malaysia soon for protecting the rights and interests of the Nepalese nationals working in that country.

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