The Foreign Secretary of India Shivshankar Menon paid a visit to Kathmandu from 29 November – 1 December 2006 at the invitation of the Acting Foreign Secretary of Nepal Mr. Bhagirath Basnet.
During the visit, the Foreign Secretary had wide-ranging and fruitful discussions on a range of issues of mutual interest with senior political dignitaries and officials of Nepal. He was received by Hon’ble Prime Minister Mr. Koirala, Speaker of House of Representatives Mr. Nemwang, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr. Oli and Deputy Prime Minister Mr. Sherchan and Ministers Dr. Mahat, Mr. Tripathi and Mr. Sitaula. He also had discussions on the current political situation in Nepal with senior leaders of political parties of Nepal, including President of Nepali Congress (Democratic) Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba, General Secretary of CPN (UML) Mr. Madhav Kumar Nepal, President of Rashtriya Janshakti Party Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa and President of Rashtriya Prajatantra Party Mr. Pashupati S.J.B. Rana, and also a cross section of representatives of civil society and other leaders.
All these meetings took place in a friendly and cordial environment that characterises India-Nepal relations.
The visit of Foreign Secretary was the first by a senior Indian official after the historic changes ushered in by the People’s Movement of April 2006 and the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement on 21 November 2006. It provided an opportunity to discuss the progress and future possibilities in the wide-ranging, close and multidimensional ties between India and Nepal, especially in the context of the landmark visit of Prime Minister Mr. Koirala to India in June 2006. Foreign Secretary reiterated the commitment of the Government of India to further strengthen the close, historical and friendly relations with Nepal, which are a matter of highest priority for India.
Foreign Secretary’s discussions in Kathmandu over the last two days strengthen India’s belief that the people of Nepal can successfully address the challenging tasks ahead related to democratic nation building. The international community can make a positive contribution by supporting these efforts. As ever, India is ready to support all efforts aimed at promoting peace, democracy and development in Nepal, where its people are able to choose the manner in which they wish their country to be governed and developed without fear of intimidation and coercion.
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