Kathmandu: Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola   other day called on UN High Commissioner for Refugees Sadako Ogata and discussed with her the Bhutanese refugees problem.

According to the Royal Nepalese Permanent Mission in Geneva, during the meeting Minister Bastola appreciated the assistance and cooperation of the UNHCR and said this assistance and cooperation, the care and maintenance of the Bhutanese refugees would have been very difficult.

He also briefed her about the  status of the negotiations currently going on between Nepal and Bhutan.

High Commissioner Ms. Ogata on her part expressed the need of early resolution of  the Bhutanese refugee problem.

Likewise, Foreign Affairs Minister Bastola met Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway Thorbjorn Jagland Monday and exchanged views on the state of bilateral relations existing  between the two countries.

On the occasion, Minister Bastola appreciated the cooperation and assistance extended by Norway to Nepal especially in the field of hydro power sector and requested for increased assistance.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister stated the willingness of the Norwegian government to cooperate with His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.

Also on Monday, Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration B. Mckinley called on Foreign Minister Bastola and explained him about the activities and programmes of the International Organisation for migration. They also discussed the issue of the Bhutanese refugees.

Mckinley expressed the willingness of his oganisation to cooperate with Nepal in different areas like trafficking of women, awareness programme related to migration etc.