Nepalnews.com Mercantile Connumications Pvt. Ltd.

All legitimate political forces should unite to bring Nepal back into a multi-party democratic framework

(Message from the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany Franz Ring On the 15 th Anniversary of the Day of German Unity)

Begin text: "On 3 October 2005 Germany is celebrating the 15 th Anniversary of National Unity in freedom. It reminds us how the people in the German Democratic Republic (former East Germany) fought the communist dictatorship using peaceful means to win their freedom. They thereby wrote one of the most beautiful chapters in Germany’s history. This ushered in the new, united Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990. One and a half decades have since past and we have achieved much thanks to the drive and the solidarity of Germans in east and west. But we also know that many problems still remain to be solved.

Ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Nepal and Germany in 1958, our bilateral ties have been close, friendly and strong. They have weathered the test of time and deepened over the years. I would like to emphasize the constructive political dialogue, the development cooperation, the beneficial bilateral trade as well as tourism and last, but not least, our cultural cooperation. The great number of Nepali-German organisations in the Kingdom of Nepal as well as in Germany is proof of an extensive network, which has developed over the years between many citizens of our two nations. Their engagement and commitment reach far beyond the official relations, which so happily exist between our two countries.

As a friend of Nepal and partner in development cooperation, Germany is, of course, very much interested in the destiny of the Kingdom of Nepal and its people. Germany remains extremely concerned about the armed conflict, which began in February 1996, and spread nearly all over the country since then. The German people have great sympathy for the Nepalese population, which suffers most under the armed conflict. We wholeheartedly wish that peace could be regained in a not too distant future.

The Maoist insurgency remains the most serious, immediate threat to a peaceful, prosperous and democratic Nepal. Top priority should therefore be given to bring an end to the armed conflict. All legitimate political forces should unite to bring Nepal back into a multi-party democratic framework and to address the Maoist insurgency by peaceful negotiations.

The constitutional forces should reach out hands to each other in order to allow a dialogue to happen and common ground to be found for a solution to the overarching conflict".

The Nepalese German cultural relations have a long tradition. The following institutions represent Germany at the Nepalese cultural scene.

1. The Goethe Center Kathmandu does excellent work in the field of language instruction. At present approx. 300 Nepalese students are learning the German language. Besides a library and a videothek the students also have access to the latest daily newspapers from Germany.

Moreover, the Goethe Center Kathmandu runs also a weekly counseling for students who wish to pursue their university studies in Germany.

2. The Embassy regularly promotes schools and training facilities within the frame of Small Scale Project Funding. A total of Euro 124,000.- has been earmarked for the year 2005.

3. The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) offers scholarships for post-graduates in Germany. In the year 2005 a total of 22 Nepalese applicants have been granted a DAAD scholarship. The selection procedure for 2006 has not yet been concluded. The DAAD-Program "Postgraduate Courses for Professionals with Relevance to Developing Countries" enjoys a great popularity among the applicants.

4. A variety of Nepalese-German associations promote Nepalese-German cultural relations. Among the important organizations are the Nepal-German Academic Association (NEGAS), the Carl Duisberg Society of Nepal (CDG-N), Nepal-German Friendship Association, Nepal-German Help Association, Freunde Nepals e.V. They bear witness of the vivacity of the cultural relations of our both countries. Moreover, the Friedrich-Ebert-Foundation maintains an office in Kathmandu.

The Alumni, former DAAD-students from Germany, the Nepal-German Academic Association (NEGAAS), the Society of Nepalese German Academics (SONGA) as well as the former scholarship holders of the Alexander-von-Humboldt-Foundation greatly contribute to maintaining and expanding bilateral relations.

The South Asia Institute of the University of Heidelberg maintains a branch office in Kathmandu since 1987. The Institute is a point of intersection for renowned scholars and students, arranging and coaching locally internships and also organising lectures by renowned scholars.

The Department of Music in Bhaktapur has been supported with funds from Germany. The Head of the Department, Dr. Wagner, not only holds a professorial chair at the Freie Universität Berlin but is also the Head of Department of Music at Kathmandu University.

German support for preserving Nepal’s cultural heritage has a long history in our bilateral cooperation that goes back to the early seventies and is exemplified by the integrated development approach that so greatly benefited the city of Bhaktapur. With German funds not only the dilapidation of old monuments had been detained but also the town of Bhaktapur had been restored to its old glory. The Embassy also gave the funds for the restoration of two buddhist Bahals in Kathmandu: Chhusya Bahal and Itum Bahal in the heart of Kathmandu. The renovation works at Chhusya Bahal have been completed in the year 2001, whereas the partial renovation of Itum Bahal concluded in mid 2005.

Furthermore a German athletics expert stays in Nepal, promoting the sports relations with Nepal. He instructs Nepalese athletic coaches. Objective of this is an improvement of the training methods and a more practical orientation of athletics. In the frame of the project several Nepalese scholarship holders are receiving a training as coach in Mainz and Leipzig.

National Unity based on democracy is the most important preconditions for successful development

National Unity based on democracy is one of the most important preconditions of successful development. October 3, 1990, the date of German reunification, and since then the German National Day, is also for us, the German implementing agencies for bilateral development cooperation, DED, GTZ and KfW, a particular date and has a special meaning in our efforts to contribute to the development of other countries.

German Cooperation with Nepal is longstanding, but it was not before the early nineties when Germany and Nepal decided to concentrate their cooperation programme on the following three priority areas:

The priority areas are embedded in the four pillars of Nepal’s Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) and of the Tenth Five Year Development Plan: Broad Based Economic Growth, Human Development, Social Inclusion and Good Governance.

The German experience demonstrates that the re-unification of our country would not have taken place if it had not been the will and the determination of the German people to reach that goal. We are convinced that our support to the endeavors of the Nepali people for good governance and better service delivery will finally bring sustainable reduction in the poverty level of the country.

NRC provides assistance to scholars from any country in carrying out research on Nepal

The Nepal Research Centre (NRC) is the oldest German cooperative institution in Nepal. The NRC’s earliest beginnings can be traced back to the so-called Research Scheme Nepal Himalaya established in 1959. After the Research Scheme came to an end in 1965, the so-called Thyssen House, a forerunner of the NRC, was established in Chauni, Kathmandu, in October 1965. After a series of negotiations, the Thyssen House was put on firm legal footing as a result of the conclusion of an agreement, in late 1967, between His Majesty’s Government and the Federal Republic of Germany. This agreement constituted the de facto foundation of the NRC. It also provided for the establishment of a more or less permanent institution (equipped with a library, laboratory and other facilities) to facilitate the exchange of ideas and research between Nepalese and foreign scholars.

Under the auspices of the NRC, a large number of projects have been undertaken over the past thirty-odd years. Perhaps the most important of these have been the Nepal-German Manuscript Preservation Project, the Nepal Research Programme, and the restoration of the Pujarimath in Bhaktapur. Currently the NRC hosts another long-term project funded by the German Research Council (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft), namely the Nepalese-German Manuscript Cataloguing Project (NGMCP) which was launched in April 2002.

The Nepal Research Centre provides assistance to scholars from any country in preparing and carrying out research on Nepal by supplying information and other help at different stages of a research project. The NRC periodically organizes lectures, seminars, discussions and get-to-gethers on a wide range of topics, and thus encourages scholars to communicate their findings directly here in Nepal. The NRC sponsors the publication of a series of monographs, miscellaneous papers and the Journal of the Nepal Research Centre. It also works on compiling the Nepalese National Bibliography in cooperation with the Tribhuvan University Central Library. Under its auspices, too, the Preliminary List of Manuscripts, Blockprints and Historical Documents Microfilmed by the NGMPP has been published.

NGMPP contributing to the preservation of Nepal's cultural heritage and identity

By Mr. Christoph Cüppers, Nepal Research Centre/NGMPP Director 1983-1988

The Nepal-German Manuscript Preservation Project (NGMPP) was established in 1970 under an agreement between His Majesty’s Government of Nepal and the German Oriental Society (Deutsche Morgenländische Gesellschaft, DMG). It was a joint venture between the National Archives under the Department of Archaeology, His Majesty’s Government, and the German Oriental Society, and was designed to preserve on microfilm Nepal’s extraordinary wealth of manuscripts and historical documents, thereby contributing to the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage and identity, as well as providing invaluable opportunities to explore virtually all aspects of its manifold literary, religious and historical traditions.

During its 31 years of operation the NGMPP was financially supported by the German Research Council (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). More than 180,000 manuscripts, documents and block prints with over five million folios were microfilmed in the whole of Nepal. In order to make this material more readily accessible to researchers, the Nepalese-German Manuscript Cataloguing Project was launched in April 2002. It is currently engaged in compiling an online database of information relating to the material microfilmed under the NGMPP.

NGMCP aims first and foremost to prepare comprehensive catalogue Nepalese microfilmed manuscripts

By Dr. des. Dragomir Dimitrov, Local Representative of the Nepalese-German Manuscript Cataloguing Project

The Nepalese-German Manuscript Cataloguing Project (NGMCP) is the successor of the well-known and widely acknowledged Nepal-German Manuscript Preservation Project (NGMPP) which thirty-one years after its inception in 1970 was brought to an end in March 2001. This new project was launched in April 2002 with the approval of His Majesty’ Government of Nepal and the University of Hamburg. The NGMCP is funded by the German Research Council (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). There are two staff teams, one working in the University of Hamburg and the other located in Kathmandu. The NGMCP in Kathmandu is hosted by the Nepal Research Centre.

The NGMCP aims first and foremost to prepare a detailed and comprehensive descriptive catalogue of the Nepalese manuscripts microfilmed under the NGMPP. After thirty-one years of microfilming more than 180,000 manuscripts containing over 5,300,000 folios, the estimated 80-85 per cent of the manuscripts still extant in Nepal, the time has eventually come to carefully evaluate and duly catalogue the vast amount of the material collected. For the time being the NGMCP is working mainly with the material kept in the National Archives and in the Kaisar Library. The undertaken catalogue will be made available in the Internet and is deemed to become an indispensable tool for ongoing research work.

The NGMCP is a large-scale cooperative venture between Nepal and Germany of significant academic and cultural importance. It is instrumental in disclosing and encouraging further study of the priceless treasure troves of the written tradition in Nepal.

Germany stands in the forefront as one of Nepal's important trading and economic partner

Mr. Rohini Thapaliya, President of the Nepal-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry,

Nations across the globe, Nepal included, welcomed the day of German Unity on October 3, 1990. This unification which took place a decade and half ago besides proving to be very significant event also had a far reaching impact not only in Europe but in the world at large.

Ever since the establishment of Nepal-German diplomatic and economic ties in April 4, 1958, our relations have been marked by warm cordiality and deep friendship. Undoubtedly, Germany stands in the forefront as one of our important trading and economic partner with Nepal consistently positioning herself as having trade surplus with Germany.

It's a very happy coincidence that Nepal-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NGCCI) the country's first bilateral Chamber came into existence the same year as the German Unification in 1990. The NGCCI has been closely working with the German Embassy here in fostering economic co-operation through the promotion and development of bilateral trade, investment and industries between our two nations. We seek to enhance and serve Nepalese businessmen and industrialists having business relation with Germany and also serve as the bilateral Chamber for German Business Community doing business in Nepal.

Combination of efforts by private entrepreneurs, GTZ/PSP, the German Embassy, the NGCCI and other development partners in Germany have played a very meaningful role through the promotion of a wide range of Nepali products thus propelling Nepal's economy move forward.

While vastly promoted products such as carpets, tea, aromatic plant , herbs, handmade papers, honey etc., find market in Germany through the special efforts of the Chamber and private sector initiations of both the countries, yet, we feel there are vast potential sector still remain to be explored such as in hydropower and tourism for joint-venture possibilities. We are also encouraged by the news that HMG is seriously mulling to formulate coherent policies and strategies to attract more foreign direct investment in Nepal.

Undoubtedly, Germany is a leader in European integration, possessing a vast reservoir of resource up to date industrial and technical know-how. Nepal being a landlocked and a least developing country can learn much and gain valuable guidance from German expertise and experience. Today for Nepal, Germany is the biggest export market. In the coming years NGCCI will continue to further probe and develop this sector for mutual benefits of our two countries.

Mr. Michael Chand (Harish Chand), Director of the Goethe Zentrum Kathmandu (GZK),

Goethe Zentrum Kathmandu (GZK), located now at Thapathali, has been relentlessly imparting German language to a vast majority of Nepalese as well as interested foreign citizens since 1997. GZK has more than 50 members and an elected Board, in which the German Embassy maintains an observer status.

The Max Mueller Bhavan (MMB), New Delhi, has been conducting training programmes for the GZK’s teaching staff in order to approve language teaching quality. Necessary to mention is the German Embassy in Kathmandu that has been lending an audacious helping hand towards the promotion of the GZK, without which the Center would not have seen the light of day.

GZK is a full-time operating institution with 12 classes of different levels every day, having enrolled approx. 280 students in each semester. This figure is expected to rise further, in view of the popularity and trust that the GZK has gained among the people in recent years. This mainly results from the untiring efforts of the entire staff and the support provided by well-wishers of the GZK.

Classes range from Beginners' level up to the Certificate Level (Central Certificate Level / Zertifikat Deutsch). Additionally, GZK regularly conducts special courses like "Travel Guides" and plans to conduct others like "Shreeman Shreemati German", "Business German", "Film German", "Weekend", "Conversation" and "Hotel", including courses for children.

A further main goal the GZK wants to achieve in cooperation with the MMB is to train additional teachers in order to cope with the growing language classes.

Besides the regular courses, the GZK has also been running programmes like "Stammtisch-Deutsch", a weekly meeting providing the participants with the opportunity to discuss German-Nepalese issues.

Very recently, the GZK was also assigned by the German Embassy the task of a weekly study counceling for people wishing to pursue their university studies in Germany. GZK also provides distant study examinations on behalf of the University of Koblenz and the University of Leipzig for German nationals working on different projects in Nepal.

The GZK is equipped with the latest technology for teaching German. There are 6 trained teaching staff and 6 others work in the administration. A modest Cafeteria "Schiller Café" is also in operation for the convenience of students during class breaks.

All in all, the GZK's effort in promoting German language in Nepal is one step forward in improving and cherishing the excellent relations existing between the Kingdom of Nepal and the Federal Republic of Germany.

GZK, like other Goethe Institutes, has been named after Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (1749-1832). He was a poet, writer, philosopher and even a politician with a remarkable range. Known for his audacious literary status and genre of German diction, he is sometimes referred to as the last universal man. He has also the distinction of being perhaps the most fully-documented creative artist in Germany and the rest of the world.

-Christof Zotter, Resident Representative, University of Heidelberg, SAI, Kathmandu Office

Founded in 1962 the South Asia Institute (SAI) of Heidelberg University (Germany) is an interdisciplinary research and teaching centre focussing on South Asia (Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maledives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka). The SAI aims to impart intercultural competence by combining social and economical sciences with historically and philologically orientated cultural sciences. Students are taught at the following departments: Anthropology, Classical Indology, Development Economics, Geography, History, History of Arts, International Economics, Modern South Asian Studies (languages and literatures) and Political Science. The SAI also houses a well equipped library.

In order to improve communication and institutional exchange the SAI operates several regional offices in South Asia (Colombo, Delhi, Kathmandu). Based on a Memorandum of Understanding with Tribhuvan University (T.U.) the Kathmandu Office of the SAI was founded in 1987. Since that time the office cooperates with partners in the region of research. Close institutional links exist with the Centre for Nepal and Asian Studies (CNAS), which include jointly organised talk progammes of renowned scholars. Another partner is the Social Science Baha (SSB), who since last year publishes the “European Bulletin of Himalayan Research” (EBHR), presently edited at the SAI in Heidelberg. Initiated by the former representative, Elvira Graner, the Kathmandu Office has designed a MA Support Scheme, in cooperation with the T.U. und several donor-funded projects. Within this scheme a group of selected T.U. students enrolled in their thesis year are financally supported by projects (GTZ, SDC, NIDS, NLA). In addition, they are offered a series of classes in methodology, utilisation of the office library and computers for building up and analysing their data bases. The library of the Office is also open to Nepalese and visiting international scholars for their studies.

Current research of SAI members includes one of the subprojects of the interdisciplinary Research Centre “Ritual dynamics” funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). It is dealing with “Life-cycle rituals in Nepal”. Together with Christoph Emmrich, Niels Gutschow, Axel Michaels and Nutan Sharma the newly appointed representative Christof Zotter (Dep. of Classical Indology) undertakes research for his PhD on rituals of inititiation (vratabandha etc.). This October the Research Centre will also conduct a second workshop on “Ritual Dynamics” in Bhaktapur, where a group of international students will be taught in observing, documenting and interpreting Nepalese rituals and culture. Other research is carried out by Elvira Graner (Dept. of Geography) on (labour) migration, human development and gender studies. Jointly with Leipzig University Martin Gaenzle (SAI / Dep. of Anthropology) and N.K. Rai (T.U. / CNAS) run a project on documenting two Rai languages, Puma and Chhital.

The Office has recently shifted into the neighborhood of other German institutions and is now located within the GTZ compound, Neer Bhawan, Jhamsikhel, Patan.

I am happy to know that Telegraph Weekly is bringing out a special issue on Nepal-Germany relations. Since its formal establishment in Nepal in November 1995, Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) as per its founding vision-- peace, democracy,social justice and international cooperation and the policies of the Nepalese government underlined in the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990--organized a number of activities in the field of civic education, peace building, political dialogue, policy debates, knowledge building and management, training, advocacy and exposure and regional cooperation. FES has worked in Nepal in cooperation with its partner organizations from the government, public institutions including the university, non-government organizations and civil society and has contributed to strengthen Nepal-Germany relations. I hope, in the days to come, friendly relations between the two countries will further deepen and achieve a new height.

In 1967, the then Secretary-General of the UN, Mr. U-Thant from Myanmar, visited Nepal in the course of a pilgrimage. He found Lumbini isolated and neglected, and, together with King Mahendra, who ruled the country at that time, conceived the plan to develop this area into an international pilgrimage site that would do justice to its sacred significance.

To implement this vision, Lumbini Development Trust (LDT) was founded at the end of the 1970's. On its behest, the famous Japanese professor Tange worked out the Master Plan. For its implementation, the Nepalese government placed about three square miles of land at LDT's disposal, so that Buddhist groups from all over the world could erect temples of their respective tradition in Lumbini, which would thus become a place of pilgrimage for the followers of all schools of this world religion.

The Lumbini development project area is divided into three zones, the Sacred Garden Zone, the Monastic Zone and the Educational or Culture Zone which includes a research area.

In the Eastern Monastic Zone, monasteries have been built by the followers of Theravada-Buddhism from Myanmar, Sri Lanka, India, etc., and in the Western Monastic Zone by devotees of Mahayana- and Vajrayana-Buddhism from China, Vietnam, Bhutan, Japan, Tibet, Korea, etc.

After a German organization made an application to LDT in 1999, a plot of land was allocated shortly after, and this served as a basis for entering planning stage and draw up the concept for the Great Lotus Stupa Complex. In the following year, on this site of 120 by 120 meters, a Stupa was erected on top of a Meditation Hall, in accordance with Tibetan tradition, on the basis of writings of an eminent Tibetan master of the past. The Great Lotus Stupa was realized by a group of experts from different backgrounds over a period of four years starting in May 2000. This project has been financed and managed by a non-profit-making organization from Germany. Since the monument, in which different styles of art are uniquely brought together on the highest possible level, was officially inaugurated in February 2004, it represents a milestone and precious jewel in the Lumbini Development Area and is visited by some hundreds of pilgrims day by day.

On December 9, 2005 the draw for the final round of the World Cup will take place in Leipzig. On June 8, 2006, the opening gala will be held in the history-steeped Olympiastadion in Berlin and then, on June 9, Munich will be ready for the kick-off of the 2006 World Cup, the world’s greatest sporting event.

For the first time ever, the beginning of a World Cup is being celebrated with a gala ceremony. On June 8, 2006, after the sun has set, 75,000 people at the Berlin Olympiastadion and millions of television viewers will be able to experience an extravaganza for the senses staged by performance artist André Heller.

The rush for tickets has begun. In the first sales period there were four times as many orders as tickets. However, second, third and fourth sales periods will follow in the run-up to the championship. Last-minute tickets will be available during the fifth and last sales period from May 1, 2006. Please note that allocated tickets are non-transferable. Further details: www.fifaworldcup.com

A campaign is launched. With the aid of the Land of Ideas initiative, Germany aims to introduce itself to the world as an open and innovative country during the 2006 World Cup. A central element of this image campaign is the Walk of Ideas. Until the kick-off of the World Cup in June, enormous sculptures of important inventions will be uncovered in the centre of Berlin. One statue, for example, commemorates the invention of the studded shoe. It is also planned to present 365 places in the Land of Ideas during the coming year – one every day. Germany – Land of Ideas is an initiative of the Federal Government and German industry. The patron is Federal President Horst Köhler, who also originated the phrase “Land of Ideas”. Further details: www.land-der-ideen.de

When the tickets are available, 2006 FIFA World Cup Travel & Event Services in Frankfurt is a one-stop shop offering everything visitors need: travel from outside Germany, transfers within Germany, tourist trips and business packages. Travel & Event Services also looks after teams and officials. 2006 FIFA World Cup Accommodation Services offers hotel rooms in all World Cup cities and in all price categories. Further details: www.fifaworldcup.com Deutsche Zentrale für Tourismus, Germany’s tourism authority, offers information about Germany, its most attractive cities and most beautiful tourist regions, its sights and cultural highlights on its website at www.dzt.de. Deutsche Bahn is a national sponsor and connects the World Cup cities with state-of-the-art Intercity trains.

Sport inspires art. Internationally renowned artists have participated in the Official Art Poster project. The Luo brothers from China created the work A Cup for Your Toy, German artist Norbert Bisky is represented with Perfect Match, and Maracana stems from Beatriz Milhazes of Brazil. Further details: www.artfootball.de