Wednesday, September 7, 2005

Nepal’s determination is not to allow "outsiders" to muddle in our internal affair

Ramesh Nath Pandey, Foreign Minister, Nepal

 In a country, which for centuries has stood by its own resolve, solving its own problems has now been pressurized by a terrorist group and their supporters and sympathizers to accept outside intervention in its domestic problem. Nepal’s determination is not to allow outsiders to muddle inside our internal situation and determine our future. Nepal is aware of its sensitive geo-strategic location and shall remain firm in its resolve not to permit the misuse of its territory for sinister designs hatched for ominous purposes.

 Nepal-China relationship epitomizes a model of a relationship between a big country and a small one, which can best be described as an all-weather relationship that is free from any troubles and irritants. Both the countries are proud to have inherited through generations the legacy of deep-rooted friendship constantly nurtured by the wisdom and creativity of great leaders of different times from both sides.

 Understanding, goodwill and trust have been the hallmarks of Nepal-China relations and that both the countries have always respected, in unequivocal terms, each other’s sovereignty and political independence and refrained from interfering in each other’s internal affairs. Nepal has firmly endorsed “One-China policy in the spirit of good neighborliness' based on the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence. His Majesty’s Government’s determination to see that no anti-China activities are carried out from Nepalese soil and that the instability in our country is not exploited for sinister designs in any form against the development, progress and peace of Tibet Autonomous Region. China has always valued our principled stand on these issues.

In realization of the fact that Nepal can be a partner for prosperity of our neighbors, His Majesty the King of Nepal has added a new chapter in our relationship with neighbors by offering Nepal to be a transit point between China and India. By offering this historic opportunity we will not only be contributing to promoting their commercial relationship but also bringing the two ancient civilizations of the world much closer than before. This is a major departure in our foreign policy and we sincerely expect that our great neighbors would fully appreciate this good-neighborly offer.

 The twenty-first century is likely to witness a fierce competition for energy security, symptoms of which have already emerged. Nepal is blessed with natural resources, particularly water resources, whose prudent utilization has the potential to transform the economic face of Nepal and certain regions in the neighbourhood.

Nepal is a confident nation guided by civilized behavior of inter-state relationship. The achievements that Nepal has achieved on foreign policy front have been possible with well-meant patriotism of the Shah Dynasty. Nepal’s foreign policy is blessed with the able guidance, visionary outlook and rich substance from the Institution of Monarchy whose constant endeavors for expansion and growth of an independent foreign policy has not only guaranteed Nepal's sovereignty and independence but also earned her a distinct identity in the comity of nations. Despite turbulence within and around the South Asian region, the British could never colonize Nepal and we remained sovereign throughout history. It has deeply influenced our independent way of life, inspiring us perennially to preserve our national pride and identity by fostering friendly and cooperative relationship with neighbors and other countries in the world.

The international community has been discussing for several years now about UN reform. A broad consensus of views is yet to emerge, especially in respect of the composition of the Security Council. Partial reform of the UN will not serve the purpose and there is the need of a comprehensive approach. The aim of reforms must be to creating a secure and prosperous world livable by all with security, and dignity and should serve the interests of small countries.

Terrorism has emerged as the most serious threat to mankind in recent times. What worries the international community most is the fear that terrorists’ acquisition of weapons of mass destruction will invite human catastrophe of unimaginable scale. National efforts are alone not sufficient to deal with this deadly menace because in a globalized world, it must be accepted without any reservation, that a threat to one is a threat to all. In the context of complex nature of threats, a more pervasive sense of insecurity is on the rise and that terrorist who are connected more by ideology than by geography remain the main source of such insecurity. The international community has to firmly reject the political identity construed on the instincts of extremism and terrorism. There should be no double standard in dealing with terrorists. All terrorists are connected in their sinister motives hence terrorism all over the world must be viewed from the same optics.

The terrorism in Nepal must be viewed in a purely geo-strategic perspective as well. The self-proclaimed Maoists have not only misused and offended the name of the great leader Chairman Mao but under the guise of being the liberators of the poor have turned the birthplace of Buddha into a hotbed of terrorism. They have killed innocent children and women and have vowed to unleash their reign of terror through extortion, kidnapping and assassinations. Those that don’t believe in the basics of ‘live and let live’ have called for UN mediation to resolve whatever little political, economic or social philosophy that they possess.

Nepal and China share a long border, spanning a range of about 1414 Kilometers and that our two governments settled border issue amicably in 1961 within a period of two years in the fundamental interest of the two countries and peoples, demonstrating an excellent example of absolute trust and mature understanding.

 Opening up transit route in itself is not sufficient; it has to be supported by adequate road infrastructure to link three countries. The North-South highways across Nepal will serve both as economic and civilizational bridge, greatly facilitating movement of goods, services, capital and people apart from bringing our two intimate and friendly countries even closer.

 In conclusion, there is a strong political will on both sides to give our relationship a qualitative boost to enable us to meet the emerging realities in a globalized world. The only agenda for us is how to achieve a new height in our relationship, as there are no problems between our two countries. Nepal-China relationship is in the larger interest of regional peace and stability.

(Excerpts of the speech by Ramesh Nath Pandey, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on "Trust-based All-weather Nepal-China Friendship in the 21 st Century" at the China Institute of International Studies (CIIS) in Beijing on 17 August, 2005.)