German Mt. Everest Summiteers were presented “Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee Medal” amidst a special function organized in Stuttgart, Germany on 18 January 2004, a press release by Nepal Tourism Board said Tuesday.

Ang Tshering Sherpa, President of Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) conferred the Medals with Khada and Nepali Caps to the Mt. Everest Summiteers who could not make it to the special function held in May last year in Kathmandu, the statement said.

The program coinciding with Nepal’s participation in CMT 2004 from January 17-25, 2004 was jointly organized by Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA), Nepal Tourism Board, Nepal German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NGCCI) and Royal Nepalese Consulate General in Stuttgart, Germany, the statement added.

The recipients of Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee Medal were Sigi Hupfauer, Hermann Warth, Gunter Kampfe and Helmut Seitzel, according to the statement.

NMA Chief Sherpa, addressing the gathering of about 300 top media personnel and trade, informed the gathering about the Mt. Cho-Oyu Golden Jubilee Celebration in Nepal from October 17-19 this year. He further invited all interested to come to Nepal and to be a part of it.

On the Occasion Mt. Everest Summiteers also recalled their exciting experiences while making to the top of Mount Everest.

Sherpa also gave away the Token of Love from NMA to eight persons and organizations who made invaluable contribution to make the Mt. Everest Golden Jubilee Celebration held in May last year a grand success.

They were Reinhold Messner, Wolfgang Nairz, Ann-Katrin Bauknecht , Royal Nepalese Consulate General in Stuttgart, Michale Scott, MD Hauser Exkursionen, Reinhold Nomigkeit DAV Section Koln, Deutsche Welle, Geo Magazine and Der Spiegel, the statement said.

Reinhold Messner who was the guest speaker in the program said, “In difficult times, Nepal should not be forgotten.”

“While Nepal is facing the most difficult times in its history, Nepalese Mountains should not be avoided and should be explored more while preserving the wilderness and graciousness of them,” he said.

“The Nepalese Mountain tourism holds a great potential and we should always respect the essence of it.”

Indicating to the commercialization in the mountaineering in Nepal, he said, “We should not try to change the Nepalese Mountains rather the Mountains are there to change us.”

Meanwhile, a nine-day long Trade Fair CMT 2004 in Stuttgart, Germany concluded on 25 January 2004, said the statement. The International Exhibition for Caravanning, Motoring and Tourism (CMT) provides a unique platform for the presentation of products and services for countries promoting tourism worldwide, it added.

Nepal stall was visited by Mayor of Stuttgart, Müeller Trimbüsch, Consul General of Great Britain to Germany, Mark Twigg, Cuban Minister for Tourism, Chief of Protocal from European Parliament, Wilfried Bauer, Reinhold Messner, Wolgang Nairz and four Mt. Everest Summiteers and journalists, according to the statement. nepalnews.com mr Jan 27 04