National 12 (Spotlight Weekly)

Descriptive Cautions

The Embassy officials clarify the need to issue Travel Warnings

By A CORRESPONDENT

The officials at the American Embassy in Kathmandu have clarified about the Travel Warnings issued by the Department of State. Amid concerns that the Travel Warnings would terribly hurt the tourism sector in the country, the officials have said that although they are as much concerned about not hurting Nepalese economy, they are bound by their primary duty to protect their citizens.

“We are duty-bound to share any information available to the official American community regarding potential risks or security concerns with all American citizens,” said Robert Farquhar, Consular Section Chief at the Embassy. “We look forward to the day when we can assure Americans of safe travel in Nepal,” he added.

The State Department had first issued Travel Warning on Nepal on October 22,2003. The vehement anti-American rhetoric (of the Maoists), killing of its two security guards, bombings of and threats to American or American affiliated business enterprises, an attack on an American NGO worker in Dolpa are some of the reasons why the American government is concerned about the security situation in Nepal. As a result, they have advised Americans to defer non-essential travel to Nepal. “We urge the Maoists to take up the government’s offer for peace talks. We want peaceful, prosperous and democratic Nepal,” said Grace Shelton, Political/Economic Section Chief at the Embassy.

Meanwhile, Farquhar also clarified on the requirements about the Diversity Visa. “It breaks our heart to refuse a visa to a person who has won the lottery and done a lot of homework only because he failed to meet certain requirements,” he said. According to him, the Ten plus education and something to show that the person can support himself and/or his family in the United States are the requirements. He added that the US Embassy does not endorse any companies that claim to provide service in filling up the Electronic DV forms.

“We do not endorse any of them officially. In fact, if one has the access to internet and can scan the photo, it would be better to fill the forms by themselves. Moreover, we absolutely advise people not to be taken for a ride by companies that claim to give any kind of guarantee in these matters,” Farquhar said.

Last year, around 2000 Nepalese received the immigrant visa. The DV lottery system was introduced by the US Congress in order to promote diversity in their country. Those countries with less than 50,000 immigrants are eligible for the lottery visa.

Bangladesh Proposes Free Trade

The neighboring Bangladesh has made a proposal to have free trade with Nepal. Its foreign minister M. Morshed Khan, who was in Kathmandu last week to invite the Nepali PM to take part in the forthcoming SAARC Summit to be held in Dhaka, made the proposal.

With the objective of promoting the bilateral trade, the Bangladeshi government is said to have made the proposal to which the Nepali government has made a positive response. Nepalese Minister of State Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat has agreed to carry forward discussions on this proposal. “Bangladesh has made the proposal and we are discussing it,” said Dr. Mahat.

Bangladesh has also agreed to waive custom duties on Nepalese vegetables and fruits. It has also agreed to provide visa free of cost to people from Nepal in response to Nepal’s move to provide free visa to SAARC nationals.

Although the two countries are close neighbors, the bilateral trade is abysmal hovering below Rs 520 million a year. The free trade will mean that Bangladesh will provide access to Nepalese products like vegetables, fruits, noodles and beers without imposing custom duties.

The free trade will also mean that Bangladeshi medicines, jutes, chemical fertilizers and garment would be available is lesser prices in Nepal. The two countries are close neighbors but a 30 kilometer stretch of road in Indian territory divides them. Therefore, any transit and transport between the two countries need India’s permission.