In depth Analysis

Girija trip to reflect Delhi game plan!

Kathmandu: Despite the hype, the Prime Minister himself makes a conservative assessment of his India visit. He now calls it an agenda free confidence building measure. Government and congress publicity however, seeks much from Girija babu. The agenda-free visit is known to be taking up all the plethora of issues outstanding in Nepal-India relations. From that of the latest border encroachments to that of the latest water encroachments to the now longstanding Bhutanese refugee issues and the many other trade and security issues, the fact of Nepal-India ties is that the issues remain and mound and they have been treated unilaterally to the advantages of India and the detriment of Nepal so much so that no bilateral visit can avoid them.

The agenda-free trip in fact contains so many agenda that one conservative assessment put it that the Prime Minister will return with agreements stating that the appropriate committees and the ministries of the two countries will discuss them.

What is strange is the almost universal viewpoint in Nepal that, as on previous visits of congress governments from Nepal to India, this congress government too will "give" something substantial to India. Some or the other aspects of Nepalese sovereignty is likely to be compromised thus, say the skeptics. Already, they point out, the Prime Minister goes to Delhi having ram-rodded the controversial citizenship bill through the Parliament.

This general skepticism belies the overall erosion of public confidence in the current system of governance, which allows the clout of neighboring India to handicap the essence of "nationalism" in Nepalese organizational politics.

Not surprisingly, Girija babu is being well met by the Indian business community, which has been capitalizing from this now consolidated Indian market. Predictably, the Prime minister will raise the issue of Nepal’s entry in to the Indian market for reciprocal considerations but the gestures that will emanate in New Delhi must necessarily follow the dictates of Indian business community in such matters, for example, as the entry of KODAK, Nepal. It is logical to assume that superior third country technology is more welcome directly to India than through Nepal.

The skepticism is heightened even further when viewed in the light of direct Indian business links with the political establishment in Nepal. How much and to what extent Girija babu can plead the Nepali case has its practical limitations here with both the Indian political establishment and the Nepali counterpart funded by the Indian business community the limits of the talks at Delhi have already been set.

It is this that prevents any euphoria being generated from this current visit. Despite what the congress media says, and what the UML media demands, the game plan is decidedly not in Nepal’s favor.

Box news:

A new Growth triangle in SAARC likely

Kathmandu: Nepal’s Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has indicated that the idea of exporting electricity to Bangladesh could take shape in due course of time.

He also divulged that Bangladesh’s proposal of exporting gas to this country could also become a reality if things proceeded as per the dialogue held recently in Kathmandu between the two friendly countries.

To an exclusive interrogation of the Telegraph Weekly, the Nepalese Prime minister intimated that for exporting electricity to Bangladesh and in lieu importing gas from that country, a sort of "consortium" comprising of three countries, Nepal, India and Bangladesh could be firmly incorporated.

Prime Minister Koirala made this confession to this correspondent at the venue of the press conference held 29 July at his official residence prior to his India visit.

"’I talked about the formation of this consortium with the visiting B’desh health minister last fortnight when the latter paid a courtesy call on me", added the Prime minister.

Regarding the question whether India would allow her territories to be used for the materialization of the Nepalese and the Bangladeshis’ desire, Koirala said that "I’ll talk with the Indian leaders in this regard during my trip there for the formation of a "consortium" which will be of benefit to India as well.

Intellectuals here believe that if India gives a positive nod to this pretty new concept, then it would be a completely new exercise that would take a form of what could be called as a "growth-triangle" comprising three SAARC nations e.g. Nepal, Bangladesh and India.

To recall, within SAARC, there is already the existence of a "growth quadrangle"’ that houses Bhutan, Nepal, Bangladesh and India.

To recall, the SAARC charter allows the formation of such small groupings.

The crux of the matter is that Bangladesh possesses colossal amount of gas reserves in her soil which could cater to the needs of neighboring West Bengal and Eastern Nepal provided India allows her territory to be used for her friendly small neighbors.

Gas is also in high demand in India. However, B’desh and India have yet to talk on this matter.

More talks on these proceedings are likely to be held between Nepal and Bangladesh during the much-awaited visit of Bangladesh Commerce Minister scheduled for next month.

Strip News:

45 years of Nepal-China ties:
China never tampered with territorial integrity of Nepal

H.E.Mr. Zeng Xuyong.

Kathmandu: The Nepal China Study Center in close co-operation with the Institute of Foreign Affairs jointly organized a talk program to mark the 45th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relation between Nepal and China.

Surprisingly though, the Institute of Foreign Affairs, an affiliate of the Nepal’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs joined hands with the China Study center for the first time which perhaps amply hinted that Nepal too attaches great significance to her traditional ties with the powerful northern neighbor.

Noted China experts and Nepal’s recognized nationalists attended the talk program.

Welcoming the guests, the chairman of the China Study Center, senior journalist Madan Regmi opined that "’we are proud of our relationship with China and that is because China has never tampered with the territorial integrity of Nepal but has on the contrary maintained throughout a position of magnanimity with Nepal".

Elaborating it further Regmi told that the strain free Nepal-China ties since time immemorial "effectively underscored that a great nation and a good neighbor like China takes care of the interest and territorial integrity of a relatively small neighbor like Nepal".

He also divulged that China belonged to this region and was a part of the same region where Nepal is situated.

"Her active participation in South Asia is, thus but a natural phenomenon", Regmi added.

Former SAARC Secretary General, Yadav Kant Silwal gave his keynote address on the occasion.

Lauding the problem-free Nepal-China ties since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two friendly countries, Silwal said that "perhaps very few neighbors in the world- Nepal and China implied- have had such an uninterruptedly satisfying and smooth overall relationship whose fundamentals continue to be scrupulously observed".

Ambassador Silwal in an indirect manner suggested the SAARC nations to benefit from Chinese experience by being closer to the latter. "It will be legitimate for Nepal as indeed for other members of the SAARC to give a practical shape to the idea of promoting a meaningful dialogue between SAARC and China as already envisioned in its agenda", Silwal continued.

He however, suggested both Nepal and China to engage in all seriousness in the task of preparing a road-map of Nepal-China bilateral co-operation in trade, investment, tourism, cultural exchanges and so on with a pledge to implement them within a definite time frame.

Chinese Ambassador to the Nepali court, Mr. Zeng Xuyong, in his speech said taking stock of the present day world situation "that the developments in the international situation show that the world at the turn of the century is far from tranquil and that hegemonism and power politics have manifested themselves in new ways".

Ambassador Zeng further outlined that though the speed of globalization is gaining speed yet the gap between the "rich and the poor" is further widening and the disparity between "North and South" is becoming increasingly striking resulting in the hard fact that the developing countries have to confront more with even stiffer challenges in their economic development.

Lauding the total stability in our bilateral ties, Ambassador Zeng opined that "practice has proved that good neighborly friendship existing between China and Nepal not only conforms with the fundamental interests and aspirations of the two peoples but also has substantially remained conducive for the maintenance of peace and stability in the region.

Nepal’s foreign minister Chakra Prasad Bastola in a subdued voice, however, said "Nepal and China have time and again proved to be genuinely close and "trustworthy" neighbors".

Attending participants guessed as to why Bastola could not speak his mind on the occasion. He was having India trip two days later.

The executive director at the Institute of Foreign Affairs, Dr. M.P.Lohani said that the establishment of diplomatic relations with China 45 years ago was in itself an epoch making event. Lohani opined that Chinese investment in Nepal must grow and if it so it would be in Nepal’s interest.

The Chirman of the talk program, Dr. Hark Gurung , however, surprised many a brains attending the talk program when he said that there had been a "great wall of ignorance" in Nepal and Nepal’s excessive inclination towards her southern neighbor contributed to the creation of the wall of ignorance here.

Miscellaneous:

Talk program on WTO process

Kathmandu: A German scholar of international standing, Mr. Klaus Zwickel, delivered a lecture last week on "Trade Unions, Globalization and the WTO Process" at the Hotel Himalaya.

The lecture program was held under the aegis of the FES-Friedrich Ebert Stiftung, which was participated in by Nepal’s eminent scholars, German embassy diplomats, local media men and the officials of the organizations having partner-type relationships with the FES.

Dr. Zwickel, the President of the International Metalworkers Federation, addressing the gathering said that modern governance could only mean if dynamism of globalization was politically steered up and the consequences socially flanked.

"Modern governance for us is not that the responsible politics subordinates itself to the boundless economy and determines the market", added Zwickel.

Talking on the trade unions, Zwickel explained that the right to form independent trade unions and the collective bargaining of related labor contracts existed only on paper in many countries and the political denial of trade union rights have resulted in the undermining of their fundamental rights.

"’ We can with the help of increasing economic contacts and the strengthening of trade relationships, accelerate the political pressure on independent trade union activities and press for the consequent compliance of human rights", continued Zwickel.

Concluding his lecture Zwickel, president of the Metal workers federation said that "political democracy and social civic society require a stable and future-sustainable trade unions and this is not only true for his country Germany but for Nepal as well.

The newly arrived FES Nepal chief, Mr. Alfred Diebold welcoming the guests attending the lecture program hoped that Nepalese trade unions could learn much from the experiences of the German trade unions.

" The manner Nepalese trade unionists interact with each other on a regular basis ensures their bright future", concluded Dr. Diebold.

Dr. Zwickel left for his home country via Bangkok.

Editors’ meet minister J.P.Anand

Kathmandu: A high level commission of the newly established Editors’ and Publishers’ Federation or otherwise the EPF-Nepal, paid a courtesy call on the Communications and Information minister Jay Prasad Gupta "Ananda" at the latter’s office in Singhdurbar last week.

The minister cordially received the delegation members.

During the meeting with the minister, the chief of the commission and the chairman of the federation, senior journalist, Devendra Gautam highlighted the salient features of the newly established federation and sought the ministerial level support in mitigating the multitudinous sufferings currently being faced by small newspapers of the country more so by the papers being printed from the mofussil.

The delegation members sought the kind support of the minister in increasing the government endowment for buying the newsprint; making available the government commercials to all newspapers in accordance with the categorization scheme developed by the Press Council; providing electronic mail and Internet facilities at reduced prices to the newspapers currently on the Internet and later extending it to others as well who wish to go Internet; and preparing a propitious atmosphere for the newspapers so that they could enhance their existing qualities to a new level for the readers benefits and so many others.

The minister listened to and appreciated the feelings of the delegation and assured the visiting senior journalists that what ever could be possible from his side he would do that.

The minister also assured the delegation that he would dig out the possibilities in supporting the federation with a sizeable chunk of financial assistance.

The delegation comprised of executive members of the federation Kamal Joshi, Sambhu Shrestha; Gopal Budathoki; Kumar Raut; Pushpa Raj Pradhan and Narendra Prasad Upadhyaya-Aryal.

Stick to one man-one post rule; Bhattarai suggests Koirala

Kathmandu: Congress newspapers kindred to Bhattarai-Deuba conglomerate have predicted that Prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala’s visit to India would be his last trip abroad and that upon his completion of the Delhi pilgrimage the latter would smoothly hand over the mantle of power to his political rival-Dr.Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.

The basis of their assumption has been drawn from the meeting between the two top hats of the congress at Bahinsepati-the abode of Bhattarai, wherein the incumbent Prime minister is learnt to have point blank told Bhattarai that upon his return from Delhi he would consider his quitting the coveted post. Koirala’s mood imaginably would have remained sad at time of his fresh admission.

However, this much is for sure is that at the moment Koirala is enjoying neither the support from his own cabinet members nor from the party men.

Who is to be blamed for this calamity, if any, that has befallen on Koirala should be better known to the Prime minister himself and perhaps to his inner coterie members.

For the outsiders, their final analysis has been that the present government is far worse than Bhattarai’s comparatively speaking less bad establishment for obvious reasons.

Be that as it may, the newspapers have also commented that Prime Minister Koirala’s plight at his tête-à-tête with the old bachelor went completely ignored by Bhattarai who is learnt to have offered his precious idea to ease the formers’ mounting problems.

" You please either remain the Prime minister or the party president. If you stick to one man-one post perhaps would lessen your anxieties", suggested Bhattarai. Listening to this, the newspapers write, Koirala did not utter a single word.

Considering Koirala’s declared lust for power and post, it could be summarily rejected that Koirala would have told Bhattarai of his resigning from the current post.

Congress watchers presume that Koirala’s meeting with his political rival was simply a courtesy call and to bag the latter’s "good-will" till his India trip came to an end. "This meeting might have the objective of keeping Bhattarai in good humor so that the latter takes care after the congress’ battered house in order till he winds up his Delhi sojourn", commented a Bhattaraite to this scribe.

To recall, a sizeable section of congress activists including some party’s lawmakers have already forwarded certain conditions for Girija’s perusal if he wished to continue as the nation’s Prime minister. This disgruntled lot of the congressmen did so apparently under the instigation of the Deuba-Bhattarai combine.

Independent analysts predict that neither Girija will relinquish his Premier post nor will he allow some one other than himself to occupy the party’s presidency come what may.

To expect some thing tangible from Koirala with regard to one man-one post would be simply day dreaming exercise, say those who understand Koirala better.

EU presidency, French agenda

Kathmandu: Each member State in rotation assumes the presidency of the European Union for six months.

Thus, succeeding Portugal (since Kathmandu had no diplomatic representation and hence France acted as President of the EU for Nepal-Ed) from July 1st, 2000, France has already assumed the EU presidency and will be in charge of several major matters.

In particular, France will have to organize the negotiations at the Inter Governmental Conference-IGC-,which opened in Brussels on February 14, this year.

The object of these talks is the reform of the EU institutions. In order to ensure the smooth running of a Europe enlarged by about ten new members, work will relate to the composition of the Commission, on the extension of the scope of qualified majority voting, instead of by unanimous decision, and lastly, on adjusting the weighing of the votes of each member State within the Council of Ministers.

The Heads of State and governments of the EU should sign the new treaty concluding the IGC in Nice scheduled this December.

At the same time, the member States will also discuss the construction of a Europe defense and workout a Charter of Basic Rights for European citizens; it is learnt from the French sources in Kathmandu. 

| National | 5 Question  | Editorial | 2nd Impression | International | Past |