Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey (File Photo)

Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey (File Photo)
Foreign Minister Ramesh Nath Pandey has said that the King’s address to the nation on February 1 and February 19 this year have opened the door for all political forces having faith in multiparty democracy to seriously engage in constructive dialogue to end the impasse in the country.

“The ball is now in the court of the political parties to respond positively to the King’s call for national solidarity with a view of ensuring that peace and democracy are never again jeopardized,” the state run Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) quoted Minister Pandey as saying.

Minister Pandey made this remark while addressing the heads of diplomatic missions at a dinner he hosted to bid farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, Park Sang-hoon, at the Foreign Ministry Wednesday evening.

Stating that restoration of peace, stability and reenergizing democratic process in keeping with country’s vital interest and welfare of the people has been the overarching goal of His Majesty the King, Minister Pandey termed His Majesty’s call for an early reactivation of democratic process through ballots as a reflection of His Majesty’s profound commitment to constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy.

Minister Pandey expressed hope that Nepal’s friends in the international community would lend valuable support to the King’s step and urge all democratic forces to seize the opportunity in the larger interest of the country and people, the press release said.

Minister Pandey also lauded the role of outgoing ambassador of the Republic of Korea in strengthening relations between the Kingdom of Nepal and the Republic of Korea by remaining perfectly within the confines of diplomatic norms and practices.

He further said that one of the defining features of relationship between the two countries is both countries’ understanding of the values of peace and national dignity and their abiding faith in such fundamental principles of inter-state relationship as sovereign equality, territorial integrity, non-interference, appreciation of each other’s sensitivities and difficulties, the RSS added.

He added that strict adherence to these principles always keeps relations between the countries in a happy state, free of troubles and irritants.