National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Quiet Diplomacy

Foreign Secretary Acharya paves the ground for international support against insurgency

By BHAGIRATH YOGI

Even before acting Foreign Secretary Madhu Ram Acharya returned home on Monday after completing a whirlwind tour of the Russian Federation and China, his visit had started to pay off. Both China and Russia have condemned violent activities being carried out by the underground Maoist outfit in the Himalayan kingdom and have expressed their full support to the Nepalese government in its fight against the insurgents.

Within days of visiting Washington D.C. and London along with joint secretary at the Foreign Ministry Gyan Chandra Acharya, Secretary Acharya had left for Moscow. His mission: to apprise Nepal's friends about the situation back home and seek their support in containing the rebellion.

Thanks to the `quiet diplomacy' by the Nepalese officials, US President George W. Bush would be receiving Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba at White House in the first week of May. The premier is also likely to visit London on the way back home but his itinerary is yet to be finalized, Shital Niwas sources said.

After the visit of Deuba to New Delhi in March this year seeking the southern neighbor's help in controlling Maoist activities on its soil, the government had decided to apprise the international community about Nepal's fight against insurgency. As Deuba himself holds the foreign affairs portfolio (thereby limiting Shital Niwas' role to engage in aggressive diplomacy) and is busy with domestic concerns, acting Secretary Acharya flew to important world capitals.

On April 23 and 24, Acharya held bilateral consultations with senior Russian government officials in Moscow. Two days later, the government of Russian Federation gave a strong backing to the Nepalese government. "The Russian Federation resolutely condemns the actions of extremists in Nepal and expresses full support to the Nepalese government in its efforts to restore peace and order in the country," the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Friday. "Moscow believes that the rallying of all the responsible political forces of Nepal in the face of the mounting terrorist threat will enable the authorities to achieve stabilization of the situation in the kingdom."

The same day, British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw condemned the rebels for their "brutal and indiscriminate" acts of violence during the five-day shutdown strike. "I view with abhorrence the brutal and indiscriminate terror tactics employed by the Maoists against civilians. These developments are a direct threat to democracy and stability in Nepal," he said. Saying that the British government supported the government of Nepal in its efforts to find a peaceful solution to the insurgency and the right of the people of Nepal to choose their government through the ballot box, the British Secretary said the Maoists must renounce violence and intimidation, come back into the political mainstream, and re-engage in the talks.

Talking to reporters upon his return, Acharya said discussions were held on an array of issues of bilateral interests including controlling terrorism during his meeting with Chinese and Russian officials. In Beijing, Acharya met Wang Yi, Vice Foreign Minister, among others, and discussed matters relating to bilateral interest and regional and international affairs.

"There is a tremendous goodwill toward Nepal and Nepalese people among our international friends abroad," said a senior official at the Foreign Ministry. "They are equally worried that situation in Nepal could further deteriorate."

As Nepal is fighting a decisive war against six-year-old insurgency, it is good news that it can still count on the goodwill and support of the international community. But whether the government will be able to turn such a vast pool of goodwill to force the rebels to come to the negotiating table remains to be seen.