Kathmandu, Jan. 13: A two-day seminar organised by the Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture for participants of the youth mobilisation programme for rural and community development began in Lalitpur today.

Inaugurating the seminar, Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Sharat Singh Bhandari said that this programme implemented by the government since last year in keeping with the policy of tapping youth in the campaign of national development has turned out to be fruitful and result-oriented.

He also observed that rural and community development workers have to play an important role to uplift the living standards of the rural people who are deprived of basic needs including education.

Secretary at the Ministry Shreeman Shrestha said that His Majesty’s Government has put forth a variety of result-oriented programmes in line with its youth self-employment programme.

Joint secretaries at the Ministry Dilaya Kumar Bista and Dr. Saphalya Amatya spoke of the importance of the programme for enhancing the capabilities and skills of youths.

Under the youth mobilisation programme for rural and community development, some 350 jobless graduates will be sent out on observation tours to 40 different districts of the country for one month this year.

The youths will identify the problems faced by rural people, share experience with people from different walks of life, participate in developmental programmes, foster local awareness against evil practices like early marriage, polygamy and girl trafficking and encourage people in creative work.

Within one month after completion of their assignments, they will submit reports on the problems of the locations where they were deployed and possible remedial measures.

Meanwhile, our staff reporter adds, at the seminar paper on Nepalese Rural Economy was presented by Dr Chiranjibi Nepal and Deepak Subedi while papers on the Objective of the Programme   was presented by Bishnu Nath Sharma and Nirmal Raj Kafle. Other papers presented at the seminar today were on The Role of Youth in Social Development by Dileep Bista and Chitra Bahadur Karki and a paper on Population, Reproduction, Health and Environment   by Ajit Pradhan and Harischandra Rai. During the past year Youth Ministry signed up 249 University graduates  to go to different VDCs of nineteen districts and work for rural and community development.

Students up to the age of twenty nine years with a bachelor’s degree are eligible for this program. The Ministry aims to mobilise twenty thousand youth in a period  of five years and is mobilising three hundred fifty students this year.

Kathmandu, Jan. 13: Norwegian Minister for Foreign Affairs Knut Vollebaek has said that for a country like Nepal with diverse climatic features, the telecommunications sector can be of great significance in addition to hydropower.

He was speaking at an interaction programme held here today by the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI).

Mr Vollebaek said Norway can extend cooperation to Nepal in telecommunications, environmental technology, wood processing, metallurgy and chemicals compatible with its needs and interests.

Norway has been cooperating with Nepal for more than three decades, and development cooperation in primary education and basic health have paved the way for much broader contacts in higher education and research, in environment matters, in the work of the United Nations and other international organisations and in business, he said.

A visible sign of the bonds that have developed between us was the opening of a Norwegian embassy in Kathmandu, he said adding that although a small country, Norway has world class industries in a surprising number of fields, among which the hydropower industry is one of the most advanced.

Describing hydropower as economical, reliable and by far the most environment friendly source of energy, he said more than a century of national experience from working under extremely challenging topographical and climatic conditions has given Norwegian companies a competence which is quite unique.

Today Norwegian hydroelectric companies are represented all over the world, and their investments in Nepal have made Norway the third largest private investor in this country, he observed.

Describing both countries as mountainous with scattered populations and a harsh climate, he said modern telecommunications can overcome and even take advantage of such challenges, adding that telemedicine, distance education and mobile and satellite telephony are some of the specialities of Norwegian industry which ought to be relevant to Nepal’s needs.

Referring to environmental technology as another area where Norway is a leading nation, he said stringent environmental standards for decades have led to the development of advanced environmental technology.

A clean environment is not only natural and pleasant,  it is also economically sound, and the longer one waits to install new and environmental friendly technologies, the larger the clean-up bill will become, he observed.

Characterising trade and investments as two-way processes, he said the Norwegian market has a high purchasing power and may be of interest to Nepal despite its limited size.

Nepal has already achieved success in Norway with garments and handicraft products, and Nepalese exporters should be aware of the assistance that the Norwegian import assistance organisation, Norimpod, can provide, he said.

Pointing out that sound development policies at all levels of government are essential to attract investments, he said transparency and predictability are crucial to such policies and combating corruption and the unproductive use of resources are other key elements.

He also observed that  the Nepalese government has committed itself to developing a favourable and socially responsible climate for trade and foreign investments.

Welcoming the Norwegian Foreign Minister, chairman of the FNCCI Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said Norway is one of the few countries in the world surpassing the United Nations recommended norms in extending official development assistance to developing countries, adding that the contribution of Norway in the economic development of Nepal is truly remarkable.

He said apart from hydropower, Nepal can be a very good location for firms willing to be involved in areas like agro-forestry, agro-processing, tourism and services.

Norway has achieved excellence in all these areas and Nepalese businessmen would like to benefit from the experience and expertise it has gained, he said.

Member of the FNCCI Suraj Baidya also spoke of the prospective sectors for foreign investments in Nepal.

Senior officials of His Majesty’s Government, noted figures of  industry and commerce  and members of the Norwegian delegation also attended the programme.

Kathmandu, Jan. 13: Nepal is expecting a significant breakthrough towards the settlement of the Bhutanese refugee issue in the upcoming foreign ministerial level meeting to be held in Thimpu.

Foreign Minister Dr. Ramsaran Mahat said today that Bhutanese refugee problem will be hopefully finalised in the Thimpu meet to be held very soon. “We are presently working to give a permanent outlet to the problem. I hope this will be the final and fruitful ministerial level talks between Nepal and Bhutan,” said Mahat in an upbeat and optimistic mood.

Nearly 100,000 Nepali speaking refugees expelled from Bhutan in early 90s are living in over half a dozen camps in eastern Nepal.

Present environment is highly favourable to find a solution of the problem. Time has come to make a headway, Mahat told journalists at a Face to Face organised by Reporters Club Nepal.

The Foreign Minister stated that following the Thimpu meet, both sides will be able to visit the camps, identify the refugees and start the process of sending them home.

Asked to cite the basis of his optimism over the refugee issue, Mahat said that the views expressed by Bhutan was the foundation of his confidence. There is an agreement over the identification of refugees and confusion and misunderstandings between the two sides have been cleared. We have made it clear to Bhutan that Nepal has nothing to do with her internal political affair. Dignified return of the refugees is only the concern of Nepal. The goodwill shown by Bhutan gives us reason to be optimistic, he added.

Regarding the recent hijacking of the Indian Airlines (IA) jet and trading of fake Indian currency by a Pakistani Embassy staff member and their impact, Dr. Mahat said this is not going to affect Nepal-India ties. Asked if IA flights to Nepal would not resume until the report of probe commission into the hijacking incident is released, Mahat said it was not true. “I have been told by the Indian government that the flights being currently postponed will resume soon,” he informed.

Things reported by the Indian media were unfounded. The truth will be known when the report of the investigation commission comes out to the public. We are very sensitive about this issue and the government is committed to rectify the matters if any security lapses are found, said the Foreign Minister denying that there was demand and acceptance of Indian representation in the probe commission.

About the Prime Minister’s visit to India, Mahat said the date had yet to be fixed at the convenience of both sides. Clarifying that the visit was overdue because of the special session of the Parliament, he said agenda of the visit would be known when the date of the visit is fixed.

Dwelling on the visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister, Mahat said Norway is coming to Nepal as the biggest investor in the hydropower sector. We are trying to attract the rich hydropower expertise, experience, capital and resource of that country to Nepal, he added.

He called unfounded the report that Karmapa Lama had entered India via Nepal and declined to comment on the issue.

Club president Rishi Dhamala also spoke at the programme.

Kathmandu, Jan. 13 : CPN-UML has emphasised the need for a package solution to the problem of the so-called Maoists stating that it could not be resolved superficially and in a unilateral manner.

A press release issued by the party here today states that this emphasis was given during official talks between the high level commission constituted by hmg under the leadership of former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and a delegation of the party yesterday.

The second Kathmandu District Level convention of the CPN-UML began Thursday amid a huge gathering of party workers and well wishers.

According to the party, the delegation presented the view that the alternative to the wrong policy and performances of the government can be sought constitutionally and peacefully. CPN-UML had completely disagreed with the views of the so-called Maoists.

The delegation was of the view that it was a political problem created as a result of the wrong policy and activities of the government and was based on extreme ideas and terrorist activities.

During the meeting, the delegation had sought clarification from the commission on how the problem arose and what was the view of the  government on this matter.

The delegation also demanded that the irregularities and vandalism under government’s protection should be checked, free and fair elections should be guaranteed, people’s confidence on multi-party system of governance and elections should be ensured, and action should be taken against the corrupt to prevent corruption.

It also demanded that the report of the joint parliamentary committee on revenue should at least be implemented, no one should be detained on the basis of his conscience, criminal activities like fabricated cases, killing and repression, and congressisation in educational, administrative and various other fields should be stopped.

The delegation also sought scrapping of the Self-Governance Act and regulation which ridicules the local bodies. Those in power should work honestly to resolve the problems of the people and the country to enhance the confidence of the people in the system, the press release states.

Kathmandu, Jan. 12: On the special occasion of the 278th Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day, a talk programme was organised under the auspices of the Prithvi Jayanti Celebration Committee here this afternoon.

Speaking as Chief Guest Vice-Chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy Mohan Koirala said that the annual Unity Day has special significance among the people.

“The words of wisdom of His late Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great bequeathed to the nation after the unification of the country still has immense practical value,” he said.

Talking about the freedom to exercise one’s language, religion and belief after the re-establishment of multi-party democracy in Nepal, Koirala however cautioned “We should never stumble to maintain the unity of Nepal, the unifier of which was late King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great himself.”

Member of the Academy and convenor of the talk programme Chitra Ranjan Nepali opined that late King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great’s contribution in unifying tiny states into one Nepal must always be remembered as it saved the country from going into the hands to the British.

Life Member Krishna Chandra Singh Pradhan said that His late Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great would always be remembered and revered by the Nepalese people.

Another Life Member of the Academy Dr. Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha said that the nation will always unite at times of national crisis mentioning the stirring up of nationalistic feelings after the Indian media incorrectly mentioned Gajendra Tamrakar as one of the hijackers of flight IC 814.

Kathmandu, Jan.12: The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (sida) has decided to continue its support to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain development (icimod) for another three years, according to a press release from icimod.

A total amount of 4 million Swedish Kroner (us $ 475,000) will be provided for the next three years towards the Centre’s core programme for sustainable development in the Hindu Kush-Himalayas.

An agreement to this effect was recently signed by Ms. Eidi Genfors, head of Asia and Latin America division of SIDA, and Mr. Egbert Pelinck, director general of icimod.

Mr. Pelinck expressed his great appreciation for SIDA’s generous support, noting that Sweden is one of seven donors that provide core support to the centre.

Others are Austria, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway and Switzerland.

The main focus of icimod’s present programme is promoting options for improved livelihoods for mountain households, gender balanced development, and management of common property natural resources.

These issues are also high on the agenda of Sweden’s development cooperation policy.

Lahan, Jan. 12: President of the Nepali Congress (nc) and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala said that the power of the nc is that of the people and vice versa and pointed out the need for the present nc majority government to understand the feelings of the people and carry out development works accordingly.

Addressing a mass meeting organised by nc siraha district committee here today, Mr Koirala said that if anyone has kept alive the Nepali Congress, it is the people of the rural areas. The existence, power and ideals of the Nepali Congress originated from the villages, he added.

Though the nc has a majority government, it has not gained momentum because of the wrong policies, nc president Koirala said, stressing the need to reassess the economic, educational and water resources policies to move ahead the development process.

Stating that he was of the view that ideological, economic and administrative initiatives should be taken to tackle the politics of murder, violence and terror, Mr Koirala said that the party and the government should resolve the Maoist problem ideologically as well as administratively.

The Maoists can be visualised but corruption is an invisible enemy, he said, adding that as it could not be defeated by moral power, all the nc rank and file should move ahead with moral courage to eliminate corruption.

Minister for Health Dr. Ram Baran Yadav said that various reactionary forces are active in creating factions within the Nepali Congress and all the party cadres should work in a united manner for the consolidation of the party and the institutional development of democracy.

Deputy speaker Mrs Chitralekha Yadav expressed the view that it was the duty of all the party cadres of the Nepali Congress, a historic party, to consolidate the party and fight for the stability of democracy.

On the occasion, nc president Koirala provided general membership of the party to 756 activists quiting the rpp (chand) to join the Nepali Congress without any conditions.

Earlier, nc president Koirala garlanded the statue of the late b. p. koirala at Kadamaha Chowk of Madhupatti vdc in Saptari district.

Likewise, party president Koirala inaugurated the liaison office of mp at Sitapur of Prasabani vdc of Saptari district and inspected the nc office at Bharadah vdc.

Former minister of state Padma Narayan Chaudhari, ex-chairman of Siraha ddc Chandra Narayan Yadav and various other speakers also expressed their views at the mass meeting chaired by president of nc siraha district committee Amir Kumar Yadav.

Kathmandu, Jan. 12: The High Level Committee constituted under the chairmanship of leader of the Nepali Congress and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba today met with the representatives of the main opposition party cpn-uml in connection with the resolution of the Maoist problem.

Present during the talks were committee chairman Sher Bahadur Deuba and members nc general secretary Sushil Koirala, nc central member Ram Chandra Poudel and member-secretary of the committee Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat.

Present from the cpn-uml side were leaders Bharat Mohan Adhikari and Yubaraj Gyawali.

Talking to newsmen on the occasion, chairman of the committee Deuba said his committee has initiated work to seek the resolution through national consensus at a time when all the major political parties are opposing the violent activities of the cpn-maoist.

He also expressed hope that a peaceful solution to the problem will be achieved as efforts will be made to find solutions by consulting other political parties as well.

Representative of the cpn-uml bharat Mohan Adhikari said the Maoist activities are terroristic in nature and that it will cause harm to democracy. His party has opposed such activities in public, he added.

He also said that a package programme should be brought to find a solution for the Maoist problem.

The committee had also held talks with the representatives of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party a few days ago.

Consultations are being made with senior human rights activists in various phases. However, this is the first time that formal talks have been held with any political party.

The committee also plans to hold talks with other political parties within few days.

Other members of the high level committee are Minister for Works and Transport Khum Bahadur Khadka and Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka.

Pokhara, Jan. 12: Minister for Home Purna Bahadur Khadka has said that both the administration and police have to work in their respective fields with a spirit of service and quality service, dedication and commitment are the yardsticks for apprisal of the government’s performance.

Minister Khadka was addressing a two day conference for chief district officers, police officers and officers of the National Investigation Department here today.

Government does not merely indicate the prime minister and the ministers, but also connotes a collective form of responsibility, initiative and accountability of employees from the secretary down to the peon and from the inspector general of police down to a sergeant, he said, adding that the short shrift meted out towards a simple farmer when he comes with problems will not make him feel the existence of democracy.

Referring to the past four and half years which were plagued by anomalies and erosion of character prior to the formation of the present majority government of the Nepali Congress, he said the people gave a mandate to the Nepali Congress party to ensure political stability in the country after seeing the many political upheavals and the consequences thereon.

He further asked whether a ploy is not afoot to destabilise the stable atmosphere in the name of the Maoist movement and added that conclusions should be drawn after serious deliberations in order to meet the challenge of maintaining law and order in the country.

He also expressed the view that the present government should have full self confidence to end delays, corruption, smuggling and mafia activity and this can be done with firm determination and renewed vigour.

Secretary at the Home Ministry Padma Prasad Pokharel said that the interaction between the ministry and the district bodies would be helpful in disposing of one’s duties and seeking out solutions for the problems faced by the country.

Joint secretary at the Home Ministry Madhav Ghimire shed light on the objectives and importance of the conference.

The conference is being attended by some 51 personnel including cdos of all 16 districts under the Western Development Region, police officers and officers of the National Investigation Department.

Kathmandu, Jan. 12:
Rajeswar Devkota, who says Lokendra Bahadur Chand and his followers joined Rastriya Prajatantra Party (Thapa) on individual ground and that RPP (Chand) with its national status exists as it is, plans soon to constitute the central leadership of the party he heads now.

“We are working on the formation of leadership and it will be finalised soon,” Devkota told journalists toady. He named several leaders who are standing around him and could be included in the central working committee. They include Hem Bahadur Malla, Ms. Chanda Shah, Ganesh Serchan, Parsuram Rai, Jagat Bahadur Gurung and Sonam Chhiring.

Devkota, elected to the party’s presidency on Sunday said the statute of RPP (Chand) has the provision of 41 members in the central working committee.

Devkota, who has been advocating for a broader unity assimilating all nationalist and democratic forces outside Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML, however, sees no possibility of uniting with the merged RPP now led by Chand. “Chand and his followers joined RPP (Thapa) on entirely individual basis and RPP (Chand) with the status of a national party remains intact,” he added.

Surya Bahadur Thapa and Lokendra Bahadur Chand on December 30 announced that both factions of RPP had united. Chand held the post of party leadership while Thapa retained the presidency. Devkota who remained outside the merger held that the marriage was far from ideological basis.

Devkota, who is still unaware of who belong to which side in the district committees and the students wing of the party now following Chand’s departure, wants to hold the party convention as soon as possible. The name of the party carrying the title of the leader (Chand) who is no more with the party now, will be probably changed during the convention. Devkota said the name has been retained for legal compulsion.

Asked about the party’s future prospects amidst the poor background having no representation in the House of Representatives, Devkota, a member of the Upper House of Parliament, said his was the party based on certain principle (commitment for nationalism) and it has the potential of flourishing. “We carry the seeds that can sprout and spread,” said Devkota who is also a noted writer.

Devkota alleged Chand of finalising the Mahakali Treaty with India and granting citizenship to foreigners during his tenure as prime minister and said he is unable to take the nationalistic stand. “How can the Treaty work when the status of the Mahakali river itself is not clear?” he asked. He charged that Kalapani which lies to the east of the river, regarded as border, has been encroached.

“Nationalism is our special identity and we want to promote it,” said Devkota. Though we do not challenge the Constitution, we hold the view that there is room for amendment in the document, he added.

Lokendra Bahadur Chand, asked to comment on the charge levelled on him by Devkota, said the unification took place with unanimous consent of his former party. Regarding the status of the party, final decision may come from the Election Commission or the Court, he stated.

RPP spokesman Kamal Thapa said the statement that RPP (Chand) is still intact has no legal and political basis. The Election Commission has already been informed about RPP’s unification and we give no significance to what are being talked about the party’s separate existence, he added.