Kathmandu, May 8: Indo-Nepal Foreign Minister level official talks was held at New Delhi, India today. Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola led the Nepalese side while the Indian side was led by Indian Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh.
During the talks various aspect of Indo-Nepal relations were reviewed and matters of bilateral cooperation discussed.
According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Bastola presented Nepal’s views on different bilateral issues like Kalapani and Indo-Nepal Treaty 1950.
While discussing the Indo-Nepal Trade and Transit Treaty, Mr Bastola put forward Nepal’s demand that Nepalese goods exported to India should be exempted the special additional duty levied by the Indian Government.
He also requested Indian authorities to take immediate steps towards giving continuity to the Fulbari transit route as the term of notification relating to its use expires on May 30, 2000.
Both the foreign ministers agreed to intiate meetings of various bilateral mechanism constituted to study the problems arising in Indo-Nepal relationship and present suggestions for resolution and take concrete steps towards resolving the problems.
It was also decided to hold foreign secretary level meeting in this connection in the near future.
Discussing the three alternatives put forward by Nepal concerning the Prime Minister’s visit to India, the Foreign Ministers directed their respective foreign ministries to finalise the date for the visit.
The Indian External Affairs Minister also directed concerning bodies of the Indian Government to take necessary steps towards giving continuity to the Fulbari transit route.
Regarding the issue of special additional duty, Mr Singh gave assurances to take intiative to put an end the present state of confusion after discussing it with the Indian Finance Minister taking into consideration the provisions of Indo-Nepal Trade and Transit Treaty.
Expressing satisfaction over the positive results of the talks held on matters relating to resumption of Indian airlines service to Kathmandu, both the foreign ministers gave directions to their respective bodies to immediately publish the date for resumption of Indian airlines services.
Both the foreign ministers agreed to hold Indo-Nepal high level task force meeting in the near future to identify new areas of Indo-Nepal cooperation and select the projects.
The Indian External Affairs Minister accepted an invitation to visit Nepal extended by Minister Bastola to attend the inauguration of 22 bridges along the East-West highway.
Indian Minister Singh also gave assurances that the Indian Government would give serious attention to the problems of Nepali workers and Nepali students in India and new Nepali origin Indians.
Acknowledging that water resources plays a vital role in Nepal-India cooperation, both the ministers stressed the need to speedily implement the agreements reached in this connection and to identify new areas of cooperation.
During the talks, discussions also took place on the Bhutanese refugee problem.
Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa and officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs took part in the talks on behalf of Nepal while foreign secretary Lalitman Singh, Indian Ambassador K. V. Rajan and officials of the Ministry of External Affairs took part in the talks on behalf of India.
The foreign ministers also agreed to implement the points raised during the meeting held between Minister for Foreign Affairs Bastola and Indian Minister for Water Resources C. P. Thakur this morning.
The hour long talks between Mr Bastola and Mr Thakur had focussed on proper utilization of water resources for mutual benefit.
They also stressed the need to speed up the implementation of the Mahakali Treaty and the steps to be taken to check floods and inundation.
During the talks, special reference was made to inundation caused in Banke district by the embankment built at Laxmipur of India as well as the Lalbakaiya, Bagmati, Kamala and Khado rivers.
Indian Minister for Water Resources Thakur said that he was ready to visit Nepal and hold bilateral talks for providing momentum to cooperation in the water resources sector.
Both the foreign ministers agreed to direct the water resources secretaries to discuss various matters concerning cooperation in the water resources as well as its problems and to present suggestions to their respective governments.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola paid a courtesy call on Indian President K. R. Narayanan today.
On the occasion Mr Bastola handed over the messages sent by His Majesty the King and the Prime Minister to the Indian President.
Mr Bastola also met leader of the Indian Opposition Party Mrs Sonia Gandhi and discussed bilateral issues and matters of mutual interest this afternoon.
Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhesh Bahadur Thapa was present on both the occasions.
Earlier today, Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola reached New Delhi at 21:30 hrs yesterday on a four day official visit to India at the friendly invitation of Mr Jaswant Singh, Minister of External Affairs of India, according to the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Minister Bastola was welcomed at the Indira Gandhi International Airport by Royal Nepalese ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, Indian ambassador K.V. Rajan, joint secretary (north) of Ministry of External Affairs Mrs Meera Shankar, Royal Nepalese Embassy officials and protocol authorities of the Government of India.