NATIONAL 1 (Spotlight Weekly)]

Dialogues At Summit Level

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's visit to India helps reduce tensions in Nepal-India relations

By KESHAB POUDEL

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's recent India visit may not have achieved spectacular results but for the first time Koirala has frankly placed his carts on the table before his Indian counter part.

The out come of the visit published in the joint communique shows that the leaders of two countries discussed on entire gamut of Indo-Nepal relations. From Laxmanpur barrage to border disputes and revision of 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship to Kalapani, Prime Minister Koirala raised all issues before Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

Back home, Koirala has not been able to attract any praise. Main opposition party leader Madhav Kumar Nepal termed the visit as unsuccessful with his party colleagues toeing his line.

"It is the practice in Nepal to accuse our own leaders even if the officials of foreign country commit mistakes," said a political analyst on condition of anonymity. "It is understandable to accuse Koirala for his mistakes but we are accusing him for the mistakes committed of others."

But all issues have been left to relative joint committees to be worked out. As usual, bureaucrats at the South Block dominated the talks.

"Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala seems to have discussed all relevant issues with the Indian leaders," said a former senior diplomat. "In that, the visit could be said to have a positive beginning to continue high level talks."

Others do not agree. "Prime minister Koirala's visit to India was a total failure," said Madhav Kumar Nepal, General Secretary of CPN-UML.

General secretary Nepal says there is nothing in the four page long joint communique to applaud as all the disputes between the two countries have been referred to secretary level committees. Bhutanese refugees and SAARC summit also did not get prominence in the talks.

"I haven't seen anything remarkable about the visit," said MP and former foreign minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani. "The only thing positive is the beginning of rapprochement."

"There was no breakthrough but the PM has raised our issues. Now its outcome will depend upon Indian reaction," said a foreign relation expert.

Nepal-India relations deteriorated following the hijacking of New Delhi-bound Indian Airlines IC 814 flight from Kathmandu last December. Furthermore, the Nepal Game Plan continued in soaring the relations which were aggravated by the water inundation at the Laxmanpur on the eve of Prime Minister Koirala's visit, the first visit to India by Nepalese Prime Minister in four years.

Prime Minister Koirala returned Sunday (August 6) after completing his seven day official visit to India with, in his words, "message of goodwill" from India. " I put all the issues before Indian leaders," said Koirala after his arrival.

The message apart, the actual outcome of the visit will depend on the working of various committees formed during the visit.