Kathmandu: The Nepal-SAARC Journalists’ Forum or otherwise the NSJF paid a courtesy call on the newly appointed Indian Ambassador to the Nepali court, Shri Dev Mukherjee, at the latter’s office in Lainchour on 21 December, 2000.
During the meeting, the Journalists’ delegation apprised the Ambassador of the objectives and the past activities of the Forum.
To recall, the NSJF was founded in 1995 December.
The leader of the delegation, N.P.Upadhyaya, also highlighted the NSJF efforts made in the past to enhance Nepal-India bilateral ties more specially at the people to people level.
“I recall with great admiration the close support we received during the tenure of your predecessor Ambassador K.V.Rajan who every time exhibited his sincere desire to cooperate the forum and in the process our forum conducted two media seminars in Biratnagar through the kind courtesy of B.P.Koirala Nepal-India Foundation and the media gatherings were a grand success”, added Upadhyaya.
The Forum sought the support of the Ambassador in arranging a Nepal-India media seminar in Kathmandu with a view to promote Nepal-India ties.
The Indian Ambassador lauded the efforts of the Forum in enhancing Nepal-India ties and assured the delegation of his continued support the common objectives.
Ambassador Mukherjee, however, expressed his utter surprise over the existence of this forum which contributed lot in bringing the people of the two countries closer.
” It is only but natural that two friendly neighbors having open borders have some occasional “glitches” in their bilateral relations. This is not that much important. What is important, however, is the process and the sincerity with which the issues were being addressed”, said Ambassador Mukherjee to a query of the visiting media man from the Forum.
The delegation comprised of Vice Chairman Lok Dip Thapa (Editor The Rising Nepal), Ramesh Tiwari (editor The Gorkhapatra), Kamal Pradhan (editor The National News Agency-The RSS), and Pushpa Pradhan-the Chief editor of The People’s review Weekly.