Statement on Nepalese Foreign Minister's Meetings in Delhi

1. The Foreign Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal, Mr. Ramesh Nath Pandey, is currently on a working visit to India.  On his arrival today in Delhi, he was received by Shri Ranjit Rae, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs.
   
   
2. Mr. Pandey is accompanied by Mr. Madhu Raman Acharya, Nepal’s Foreign Secretary. 
   
   
3. The External Affairs Minister (EAM), Shri Natwar Singh, received Mr. Pandey shortly after noon today and also hosted a lunch in his honour at Hyderabad House.
   
   
4. During his meeting with EAM, Mr. Pandey explained the reasons why His Majesty, the King of Nepal, had taken steps to dismiss the multiparty Government, declared emergency, detain political party leaders and impose censorship on the press.  He conveyed the King’s assurance that steps are being taken to relax some of these measures in the near future.  He also conveyed the King’s commitment to restoring multiparty democracy at the earliest. 
   
   
5. EAM conveyed to the Nepali Foreign Minister India’s disappointment at the measures taken by His Majesty, the King of Nepal, which had served to only deepen the crisis facing Nepal.  He pointed out that it was not only India, but several other friends of Nepal, which had expressed grave concern over these measures, which could endanger the institution of monarchy itself.  The events since February, 2005 had only served to demonstrate that not only had the security situation in Nepal not improved, but that the country was now facing a deteriorating economic situation as well.  This was likely to be further worsened by decisions of some donor countries to suspend aid to Nepal.  Against this background, EAM conveyed that it would be in the interests of Nepal and its people, for the King and the political parties to join together on a national platform to unitedly deal with the multiple challenges facing Nepal, including the threat from Maoist insurgency.  It was important for the King to take an early initiative in this regard.
   
   
6. The Foreign Minister of Nepal, who returns to Kathmandu on 9^th March will convey India’s view to the King of Nepal and to His Majesty’s Government of Nepal. 
   
   
7. The EAM took the opportunity to express India’s concern over the continuing blacking out of several Indian TV news channels by Nepal and also the difficulties being faced by Indian joint ventures in the country.  He underlined the importance of lifting restrictions on Indian entities in Nepal at the earliest in the interest of India-Nepal friendship.
   
   
8. On the question of military supplies, EAM conveyed that the matter remained under constant review by the Indian side.