NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Searching For A New Role

PM Koirala : Will it be fruitful ?

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has many issues to raise at the UN summit

By A CORRESPONDENT

As a country which has been taking a part in UN peacekeeping operations for the last four decades, the participation of prime minister Koirala in millennium summit is very significant.

His visit to Brussels and Germany will be another useful trip as European countries particularly Germany is a major importer of Nepalese carpets. Prime minister Koirala's participation at the International trade fair in Germany and meeting with business communities will further boost the trade between the two countries.

"Had the Prime Minister made preparations before leaving for his trip to UN and other European countries, Nepal could have made more benefits," said a former diplomat.

As pointed out by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan, future UN peacekeeping operation is going to be one of the major agendas of the summit, how prime minister Koirala will present his views will determine Nepal's future role.

"Prime Minister Koirala has got a good opportunity to put Nepal's point of view in peacekeeping operation and other global issues," said Jaya Pratap Rana, former permanent resident representative to UN who was instrumental in arranging the Secretary General's visit to Nepal at that time.

With the number of UN peacekeeping mission increasing globally, Prime Minister Koirala can ask more places for soldiers of Royal Nepalese Army. A soldiers Royal Nepalese army is currently working in Lebanon and East Timor.

"I will raise the issues that will promote interest of Nepal in different sectors," said Girija Prasad Koirala before leaving for the UN." In the changing context, the UN has to restructure itself and expand the security council."

In his fourth tenure as the Prime Minister, Koirala could visit India only last month and he recently got opportunity to welcome Japanese Prime Minister Mori.

After the visit to India, Prime Minister Koirala is now on a trip to United Nations and some European countries. In his two week long trip, Prime Minister Koirala will also address the UN Millennium summit.

One of the main highlights of his visit is that he leads a comparatively smaller team this time. Along with his daughter Sujata Koirala, Prime Minister's team consists of six members including, UML deputy leader K.P. Sharma Oli and RPP member Krishna Pratap Malla, foreign secretary Narayan Sumsher Thapa and his personal secretary Hari Sharma.

Prime minister Koirala can use the opportunity to explain Nepal's point of view and the challenges faced by it. Along with restructuring the UN Security Council and other issues, the UN millennium summit will also discuss on environment and HIV\AIDS issues.

As a small country, Nepal needs to exploit such opportunities to put its views before the international community. Whether Koirala can do so remains to be seen.

GOOD GOVERNANCE
Districts' Experience

As long as the government at center is not effective, the question of good governance at local level cannot be thought of. This is what experts, lawyers and donors expressed at the program launching the study report titled Good Governance in Nepal: Perspective from Panchthar and Kanchanpur districts.

"The effective government in the district and village level is possible only if the prime minister is capable to discipline his members at the center," said senior advocate Ganesh Raj Sharma." In a situation of weak central leadership, the local leaders cannot grow."

To make governance effective needs a long experience and good institutions. Despite many weaknesses, the study of these two districts has shown some positive development at the local level.

"The study has shown the real situation of governance at the district level," said Sue Wardell, head of DFID, Nepal commenting on the book.

With the support from DFID-ESP, Rural Development Foundation (RDF) has conducted the study in Ilam and Kanchanpur districts and evaluated the various courses of the district governance.

Prepared by decentralization expert Bihari Krishna Shrestha, the book analyzes various experiences including problems and challenges." The study is able to show all aspects of local governance like performance and prosperity," said Dr. Mohan Man Shainju.

Chaired by Dr. Harka Gurung, experts presented political, constitutional and other constraints of local governments.

" RDF is pleased to present the realistics of problems in the governance at grass roots," said Krishna Man Pradhan, president of RDF\Nepal.