Ambassador of Denmark to Nepal, Finn Thilsted, has said the international community is committed to supporting Nepal and Bhutan in finding a comprehensive solution to the Bhutanese refugee problem in Nepal – including resettlement to third countries as stated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

In a letter sent to Nepalnews, ambassador Thilsted said he was wrongly quoted by a leading Nepali newspaper as saying that he had blamed Bhutan for prolonging the refugee problem while addressing Bhutanese refugees in Beldangi III camp on March 8.

Nepalnews had quoted the news report.

In his letter, the Danish envoy said, “It is evident that Nepal and Bhutan have a joint responsibility for the lack of progress in the verification process. Denmark and the international community have been encouraged by reports that Nepal and Bhutan are planning to restart the dialogue with the aim of agreeing on the terms and conditions for repatriation of eligible persons and a continuation of the verification process.”

He further said, “Bhutan and Nepal, however, should take the first positive steps, as a matter of urgency, towards finding a comprehensive solution.”

Denmark is one of the largest donors of Bhutan. It also supports the Bhutanese refugees living in the UNHCR-supported camps in Nepal.

Some 105,000 refugees have been living in seven camps in eastern Nepal for the last 15 years. 15 rounds of bilateral talks held between the governments of Nepal and Bhutan have failed to yield any results. The refugees said they would launch decisive movement for repatriation under the leadership of Teknath Rizal, who was released in 1999 after ten years of jail term within Bhutan.