Biratnagar: The local academia, businessmen, mediamen, and the villagers including small kids of this sub-metropolitan city of Biratnagar extended a red carpet welcome to His Excellency Abraham Nir, the Israeli Ambassador to the Nepali court when the latter arrived here for a today long trip last Thursday.

Immediately upon his arrival in this town, Ambassador Nir met the office bearers of the Purvanchal University central of fice. The registrar of the Varsity K.P.Sharma wished to learn from the Israeli experience on how to attain sustainable develpment Ambassador Nir assured the managerment authorities there saying that Israel will be more than happy to share this sort of knowledge with Nepali academic sector.

Later the Israeli envoy was accorded a rousing welcome at the Purvanchal University Management campus. Students of this campus greeted the the Ambassador with flower bouquets. welcoming the envoy, the campus chief lauded the efforts of the Israeli leaders in having developed their nation amidst the continued chaotic conditions of conflict in the immediate neighborhood.

Ambassador in his reply speech suggested Nepal to invest on education. “It is the education only that can assure you progress”‘, said the Ambassador.

After this meeting, the Israeli diplomat went to see the famous Koirala Nivas and listened to some of the events that had made the Nivas so famous.

Later the Chief district officer invited the Ambassador to his office and gave a short briefing of the developmental activities being carried in his district.

Afterwards the Ambassador dropped in a Pharmaceutical factory wherein he was greeted by the proprietor Kishor Pradhan.

Mr. Pradhan threw a luncheon in honor of the distinguished Israeli diplomat.

Immediately after the lunch, the Ambassador rushed to attend a program organized by Mahendra Morang Campus at its premises. The students which should have in hundreds and hundreds greeted the Ambassador and accompanied up to the lecture hall.

The authorities of this campus threw light on the state of Nepal-Israel bilateral relations and hinted the envoy to be of some help in providing training courses to some teachers so that the students benefited ultimately.

The Israeli Ambassador shed light on the importance of education and assured the Campus Chief Upendra Koirala that what ever could be possible from his side would be done.

“Education is the pillar of the country”‘, added Ambassador Nir. He also lauded the courage exhibited by Nepal in the sixties in initiating diplomatic relations with his country amidst a different political atmosphere existing in South Asia that time.

The campus management honored the diplomat with a Nepali cap and traditional shawl. A rare honor was extended to Israeli diplomat.

Later the Mayor of the municipality, Ramesh Poudel, greeted the Ambassador at his office wherein both the dignitaries agreed to explore the areas of further cooperation in the future. Ambassador Nir hinted that he might manage a short trip of Mr. Poudel to Jerusalem time permitting.

The Morang Traders Association later welcomed the Israeli diplomat at their office and talked about the areas where the two sides could initiate trade ties.

In the evening, Ambassador Nir addressed a press conference which was attended by practically all the to newspapers from the town. It was an occasion for the diplomat to clarify some of the points, which were propagated by the western media against his country.

“The conflict in between the Israel and Palestine is solely for the land only but not what you have been told or been thinking of”, clarified the Ambassador.

The impression in Biratnagar has been that the two sides were in conflict +either on grounds of religion or nationalism. However, the Ambassador rejected the theories prevalent in Biratnagar.

The next day, Ambassador Nir made a short trip to a local orphanage the details of which are in second impression column inside.

After the trip to the orphanage, the diplomat had a short look at the functioning of a primary school in Bakhari village.

Later he dropped in at a Cooperative wherein he was briefed about its saving and lending procedures.

He then drove to the Eastern School of Engineering. The authorities of this school greeted the Israeli Ambassador in a befitting manner. Understandably, the principal of the school sought the support of the Ambassador in providing short training courses to its teachers. Ambassador Nir here again told the attending students to concentrate their minds in getting good education. He also assured the school that he would look into their demand in a positive manner.

Finally, Dr. Shekhar Koirala, the VC of the B.P.Medical foundation in Dharan, greeted the Ambassador.

Ambassador Nir planted a RUDRAKSHA tree at the compound of the hospital.

Prior to departure to Kathmandu on 16 March, Friday, the Ambassador had a cup of tea at the private residence of the chief editor of the Telegraph weekly in Biratnagar. Mr. Surendra Aryal and Mr. J. Lakhe were also present on the occasion.

The Biratnagar Press Club had coordinated the whole program of the Israeli Ambassador.

Thus came to an end the excessively successful trip of the Ambassador to Biratnagar.