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The visit to Nepal by Christina Rocca, the Assistant Secretary of State of the United States, may not only mend fences but prove quite effective in strengthening the understanding between the two friendly countries. This is, indeed, very opportune time for the US dignitary to visit the small, poor and beleaguered country. Recently, when President George W. Bush made renewed public commitment to defend freedom and sovereignty of the smallest state of the world, the poor Nepalese people have been filled with a new hope that their big and powerful friend will no longer be swayed by the totally baseless and pernicious publicity relentlessly carried on against Nepal by interested parties. Since Nepal has not been able to expose the sinister motives inherent in such unfounded propaganda, Nepal's good friends seem to have been duped. Nepal must work hard to clear the misunderstandings from the minds of her friends. Christina Rocca must have been briefed well by the Nepali statesmen about the truth and reality of the situation and the real character of the corrupt and anti-national politicians. It is, indeed, quite understandable when emphasis is laid on democracy and human rights. But it goes beyond one's common comprehension when big countries start espousing the causes of criminals and guilty politicians. And it boggles the mind when blatant discriminations are practiced by big and powerful countries. Why is not Bhutan taken to task for not practicing their type of democracy and following its own traditional monarchy? And where have all the humanitarian principles vanished when over a lac of Bhutanese refugees have been languishing in Nepal for over a decade? We do trust the Nepali officials must have apprised the US dignitary about the nagging Bhutanese refugee problem also and exposed India's discriminatory character. We do fully appreciate the long-term interests of the United States to pursue a new strategic policy in south Asia and developing her relations with India in global perspective. But it is absolutely unnecessary and unjust to ignore or overlook Nepal's interests.
The optimistic note in the comments of Nepali foreign minister Ramesh Nath Pandey after his meeting with the US VIP must come as a clear indication that the talks between them must have been quite positive. We have been emphasizing, all the time, that terrorism has no borders and must not be permitted to spread its tentacles and crushed immediately, without undue delay. Nepal's unique geography makes it very difficult for her people to fight terrorism very effectively and the sanctuary the terrorists are openly enjoying in adjoining alien territories makes it even more difficult. This aspect, too, must have been very clearly brought home to the visiting representative of the lone super power. She also must have experienced that the overall security situation has definitely improved in the whole kingdom in the last few weeks and, by and by, Nepal's security forces will surely restore complete peace and normalcy. Of course, if Nepal's friends don't get carried away by misinformations and continue their military cooperation, the peace process is sure to be expedited. The US Assistant Secretary, we are sure, must not have failed to note that King Gyanendra is fully committed to restore multiparty democracy and constitutional monarchy at the appropriate time and needs all kinds of cooperations from all of his friends in the fulfillment of his pious duty.
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