Crown Prince grants audience

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 16: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikram Shah Dev, Chairman of the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation, granted audience to executive vice President Yoshio Ishizaka and senior officials of Toyota Motor Corporation at the KMTNC central office today.

On the occassion, Ishizaka said that he and his team members are very impressed by the success that KMTNC has had in conservation and rural development.He also expressed interest to support KMTNC's conservation activities.Ishizaka voiced Toyota's commitment to assisting KMTNC to implement the Zoo Development Master Plan. The activities aimed to be conducted under this support programme include improvement of the main entrance area and garden, enrichment of the Asiatic Lion enclosure and construction of a new Siamang enclosure.

The Central Zoo was handed over to KMTNC by His Majesty's Government in January 1996. KMTNC aims to develop it as a centre for wildlife research and conservation education.

KMTNC works by developing partnership with grassroots level communities, government bodies, international communities, national and international non-governmental organisations, professional bodies and the private sector, according to a press release from KMTNC.

Auspicious Swayambar of Princess Prearana today

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KATHMANDU, Jan. l6: The Swayambar of Her Royal Highness Princess Prearana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah is to be solemnised with Raj Bahadur Singh according to vedic rites at the Naryanhity Royal Palace tomorrow afternoon.

The practice of the bride herself choosing the bridegroom is called Swyambar. There is a tradition of the bride garlanding the groom and the groom garlanding and offering a ring to the bride at the Swayamabar Ceremony which is solemnised at the bride's home and in which family members and relatives of both bride and bridegroom take part.

This is symbolically taken as the bride and bridegroom each agreeing to enter into wedlock.

As per the wedding programme, the groom's party will set out from Bijayaghar, Chhauni to the bride's home on Jan. 22 and the procession will pass by Mahendra Ratna Campus, Kalimati Chowk, the Tribhuvan Statue ( Tripureshwar), Mahankalsthan, Ratna Park, the National Theatre and the Mahendra Statue at Durbar Marg and enter the Royal Palace through the main gate at 4 pm.

Similarly, in course of anointing the bride at the groom's house on Jan 23, the procession will set out towards the groom's house from Narayanhiti Royal Palace main gate and pass through Darbar Marg, by the Mahendra Statue, Ghantaghar ( Clock Tower), the Bhadrakali Temple (circumambulating it clockwise), Sahid Gate, the Tribhuvan Statue (Tripureshwar), Kalimati Chowk, and Mahendra Ratna Campus and finally reach Bijaya House, Chhauni.

Her Royal Highness Princess Prearana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah was born to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah on February 29, 1978 (Falgun 9, 2034) in Kathmandu.

HRH the Princess is a B.A. in Business Studies and computing from Rochampton University, U.K.
HRH the Princess has visited China, India, Qatar and the U.K.

HRH the Princess has been decorated with the Birendra-Aishwarya Sewa Padak (2002), the Suprasiddha Prabala Gorkha Dakshina Bahu (2001), and the Gaddi Arohan Ko Rajat Mahotsav Padaka, 2028-2053 B.S. (1997).

Likewise, Mr. Raj Bahadur Singh was born on October 20, 1973 (Kartik 4, 2030) in Kathmandu.
He is the son of Mr. Navaraj Bahadur Singh and Mrs. Usha Devi Singh.

He has completed his M.S. in Computer Science from the University of California, U.S.A.

Let's make SAARC region holiday paradise: PM

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 16: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has said that the need of the day is to make the SAARC region a holiday paradise for visitors with lots of attractions and facilities. If we can contribute to this, the development of regional as well as domestic tourism would not be a far cry.
Prime Minister Chand, who was addressing the 36th annual general body meeting of Nepal Hotel Association here today, said regional tourism-targeted development would not only lead to the establishment of more economic linkages among the SAARC nations but also help in creating better understanding among the peoples of the region.

His Majesty's Government is committed to the development of regional tourism and to promoting the SAARC region as a single destination, he said.

Pointing out that along with regional tourism there are a vast range of products, resources, materials and destinations throughout the country which can be potentially marketed for the enhancement of domestic tourism, he said in order to harness this potential, the private sector should join hands with the government, directing all its efforts to the cause of regional as well as domestic tourism.

One of the main economic woes of South Asia is the prevailing unemployment situation, which can be significantly reduced through much needed promotional activities in the tourism sector, and with the development of domestic tourism more employment opportunities will be generated for the people of remote areas, he said.

Observing that the tourism industry has been compelled to face severe difficulties for the last few years, he said whether it be threat of war in one corner of the world, tension in neighbouring countries or increasing terrorist activities within or outside the country, it is tourism that suffers most.

Pointing out further that South Asia, which is home to nearly a quarter of the world population, is a region of great promise and potential in every sphere including tourism, he said only through a collective effort can the nations of South Aisa achieve peace progress and prosperity.

SAARC General Secretary Q.A.M.A. Rahim said that the South Asian Region with its may attractive places for tourists, has ample tourism prospects and facilities should be provided to tourists from SAARC nations in matters such as transport, visa and hotel accommodation.

Stating that it was equally necessary to promote intra-regional tourism simultaneously with international tourism, he said tourism entrepreneurs in South Asia should work jointly.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kuber Prasad Sharma said that efforts were under way to provide relief to the tourism industry which is facing a slump and that constructive cooperation from everyone was necessary to counter terrorist activities.

He expressed the view that it was necessary to privatize Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation to consolidate the national carrier.

Stating that parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy were indispensable, he said national freedom, unity and integrity would be protected under His Majesty the King's patronage.

Assistant Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Ravi Bhakta Shrestha referred to the destination Nepal campaign launched by the government to boost tourism and called for its success.
He said that HMG was willing to work jointly with the private sector.

President of the Nepal Hotel Association Narendra Bajracharya presided over the programme.

Pandey, Hashimoto discuss cooperation

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 16: Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey paid a courtesy call on Ryutaro Hashimoto, former prime minister of Japan, at his office in Tokyo this afternoon.

Initiating the talks, Hashimoto appreciated and thanked Minister Pandey for the contribution the Nepalese delegation has made to the success of the Asian Regional Conference of the World Summit on Information Society which ended in Tokyo on 15 January.

Hashimoto, further, said that Nepal would actively participate in the forthcoming 3rd World Water Summit to be held in Kyoto from 16 to 23 March 2003.

Minister Pandey and Hashimoto recalled with fondness their earlier meeting in the past. Hashimoto recalled the co-operative spirit of the Nepal-Japan-China expedition, which successfully climbed Mt. Everest in 1988.

Both Pandey and Hashimoto were patrons of the expedition from the Nepal and Japan sides respectively. Hashimoto further said that the satellite technology used at that time could be further expanded and used now in many sectors of the national economy.

Minister Pandey expressed his happiness at at the excellent bilateral relations that so happily exist between the two countries and thanked the people and government of Japan for their continuous economic co-operation.

He further said that the monarchies in the two countries are playing an important role in cementing further the friendly relations bewteen the two peoples.

Hashimoto also said that there exists a close relationship between the monarchies of Japan and Nepal and relations are also based on understanding and a close cooperative attitude.

In the evening, Minister Pandey attended a programme hosted by the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Tokyo. About 20 prominent Japanese travel trade entrepreneurs were present.

Welcoming the guests, minister-counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission of the Embassy mohan krishna shrestha said nepal's attraction as a tourist destination remains unabated.

Minister Pandey said Nepal is a safe destination and the internal troubles of the past years had not affected foreign visitors including Japanese.

On behalf of His Majesty's Government, he assured the guests necessary security and cooperation to visitors. He also replied to querries from the Japanese guests.

Japanese travel trade entrepreneurs, expressing their satisfaction, aussured the Minister of their utmost efforts to promote Nepal as a tourist destination in future.

Chand for concerted effort to lessen quake impact

By Our Correspondent

BHAKTAPUR, Jan. 16: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said that only a concerted effort would help reduce the impact of natural disaster like the earthquake.

"As averting natural calamities is beyond human control, all we can do is lessen the damages they might cause by being alert and adopting safety measures," Prime Minister Chand said while inaugurating 5th National Earthquake Safety Day Programme and Earthquake Safety Show amidst a function here today.

Recalling that the country witnessed a great loss of life and property during the destructive quake in 1934, Premier Chand urged all to be sensitive towards natural disasters.

"Modern scientific technologies have been a boon in protecting human lives in times of emergencies," he said.

Chand also sought regional efforts to reduce the damages of the quake in the Himalayan region, which is vulnerable to earthquakes.

Chand also observed a display of earthquake safety measures to be taken in case the earthquake happens. The Prime Minister also hailed the measures taken in constructing schools which are earthquake proof.

Home Minister and chairman of Earthquake Safety Day National Committee Dharm Bahadur Thapa pointed out the need of constructing the houses, which can resist the damages of the quake.

Minister Thapa said that the government was serious on how to mitigate the impacts of the natural calamity at the national level.

Tika Dutta Niraula, secretary at the Ministry said that there was a need for identifying the areas prone to the quakes.

The programme was jointly organised by the Earthquake Safety Day National Committee, Earthquake Safety Day District Committee, Bhaktapur and National Society on Earthquake Technology.

The government has been observing the National Earthquake Safety Day since the last five year in memory of the great quake of Magh 2, 1990 B.S. (January 1934) - which had caused severe damage killing thousands of people and ravaged much of the Valley.

Mountain heroes' historic gathering expected to boost Nepal's tourism

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 16: More record breaking events are expected in the Himalayas in May this year, as hundreds of world-famous climbers from across the world are coming to Nepal to observe the historic Golden Jubilee Celebration of the first human ascent to Mt. Everest.

Everest record holders such as Appa Sherpa, Ang Rita Sherpa and Peter Hillary are likely to attempt to the world's highest peak to mark the event. Several other expeditions will also be attempting the top of the world this Spring.

"The historic event will help give a boost to our ailing tourism because Nepal will receive much publicity and promotion globally as an adventure tourist destination," said Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation (MoCTCA) Kuber Prasad Sharma.

"As Mt. Everest is known globally, its Golden Jubilee event will draw the world's attention," said Minister Sharma here today while addressing a press conference, which was organised to disseminate information about the preparations being made for the event.

He said that the government has invited many climbers to Nepal for the event. The Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee has requested the government to provide gratis visas to Everest summiteers and all participants coming to Nepal to take part in the celebration.

Apart from the historic gathering of Everest summiteers, other international gatherings such as the Council Meeting of the Union of Asian Alpine Association (UAAA), Executive Committee Meeting of Himalayan Environment Trust, General Body Meeting of International Mountaineers' Association and the plantation of saplings at the International Mountaineers' Memorial Park at Kakani will be held on the 28th and the 29th of May.

Rock Climbing Competition, Everest Marathon and Trans-Himalayan Mountain Bike Race are other sporting events that will held as part of the golden jubilee event.

Since the historic day of May 29, 1953 when Tenzing Norgay Sherpa and Sir Edmund Hillary set their feet on the top of Mt. Everest, more than 1,200 climbers from all over the world have climbed the 8,848-meter peak from Nepal side for over 1,500 times. Of them, over 900 are still alive. Nepalese form the highest number of Everest summiteers and it also has the largest number of repeat climbers.
Ang Tshering Sherpa, President of the Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), said that scenes of climbing of Mt. Everest might be broadcast live on television. According to Sherpa, Edmund Hillary's son - Peter Hillary- has said that he would be in Tengboche on May 29 this year.

"We have talked to many international television channels such as Discovery, CNN, National Geographic and BBC regarding the coverage of the Golden Jubilee Celebration," he said.

He also said that 47 out of 65 Everest summiteers of Russia would be coming to Nepal to mark the event. "Many eight thousanders from various parts of the world are also coming to Nepal."

Under the Destination Nepal Campaign 2002-2003, the Golden Jubilee Celebration of Mt. Everest started in June last year and it will last until May this year.

Member-Secretary of DNC 2002-2003 and Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nepal Tourism Board (NTB, Tek Bahadur Dangi said that Nepal will receive immense publicity.

On the occasion, Coordinator of the Golden Jubilee Celebration Committee Yagya Raj Gautam read out a press statement, while Joint coordinator Damodar S.J.B. Rana furnished replies to questions raised by journalists.

Four terrorists killed in search operations

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 16: Four Maoist terrorists died in Khotang and Surkhet districts following a search operation carried out by the security forces.

According to the Defence Ministry, the security forces recovered two .303 rifles, two full magazines of light machine gun and explosives from the incident sites.

The Ministry said that a person of Badlapur of Bardia, who was brutally attacked by the Maoists on January 13, died on the way to the local hospital.

On January 15, security personnel found a pistol and some bullets at Likhim of Taplejung district in eastern Nepal. On the same day, local people of Banke district in mid-west Nepal handed over 20 rifles and 49 rounds of bullets to the local administration. Likewise, security personnel diffused a banner bomb planted by the terrorists at Tripura of Dolpa district in mid-west Nepal.

Regional environment agenda to be endorsed in Lanka

By Bhuwaneshor Sharma

KATHMANDU, Jan. 16: A sub-regional meeting to carve out a common agenda on issues of environment in South Asia is scheduled for January 20 and 21 in Colombo, the Sri Lankan capital.
Environmental ministers from the seven SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) nations plus Afghanistan will be attending the two-day special session of the governing council of South Asian Co-operative Environmental Programme (SACEP).

A two-member delegation, comprising the Minister for Population and Environment Kamal Prasad Chaulagai and Madan Singh Mahat, under secretary at the ministry, will participate the meeting.

"The meeting will endorse a common regional agenda for environmental protection and sustainable development which the SACEP has already prepared," said Mahat, a member of the delegation.
Nepal will place top priority on integrated mountain development as an important aspect for environmental protection in the region. "Environment protection has become a common international agenda. It has no boundary, therefore, needs a holistic approach to deal with," he said.

"Strategies for an integrated environmental protection suitable for the region's sustainable development also will be adopted," said Mahat, talking to The Rising Nepal. It will also focus on sustainable development in the region in a holistic way following the Earth Summit in Johannesburg last year, he added. The governing council meeting will also prepare a common regional scheme for implementation of the commitments made by each SAARC member nations in the summit.

At the Johannesburg Earth Summit, all South Asian Nations had made commitments for sustainable development and for environmental protection. "We will do our homework, individually and regionally, for a pragmatic approach for the implementation of the commitments made during the past summits," he explained.

"Issues relating environment should not be confined at the national or regional level, it must get priority globally. Strategies should be adopted through global perspective," said Mahat.

The meet will also discuss on the need for training on environmental education and creating awareness for environmental protection among the people living in the region.

Preparations are underway to recognise SACEP as a body of the SAARC to look after the issues of environment in the region, Mahat revealed. However, the decision has not been made yet, he added. The SACEP is the largest regional body to deal with environmental issues in the region.