Kathmandu, May 11: “The Indian Airlines(IA) flights to Kathmandu will resume by June First at the latest”, said the Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola while talking to journalists upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport after ending his official visit to India Wednesday night.

When queried about the impending official visit of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to India, Foreign Minister Bastola said, “The exact date for our Prime Minister’s official visit to India will be fixed at the convenience of both the Prime Ministers of Nepal and India”.

Minister Bastola further revealed that the Civil Aviation Minister of India will be paying a visit to Nepal in about a month’s time and the Indian Foreign Secretary will be coming to Nepal next week.

Concerning bilateral relationships between Nepal and India, Minister Bastola categorically stated that there are no outstanding problems between the two neighbouring nations.

RSS adds: Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola addressed the Indian Coucil for South Asian Co-Operation (icac) in New Delhi last evening and had a fruitful interaction  with intellectuals and diplomats.

According to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in New Delhi, the Minister stressed the importance of initiating confidence building measures in South Asia for promoting regional co-operation which would have a positive bearing for the social and economic development of the region.

Minister Bastola expressed the conviction that Nepal – India relations have been further enriched by his interactions with Indian leaders and whatever misunderstandings or misgivings that might have crept lately in out bilateral ties, have been cleared through clear undertanding of each other’s views.

The Foreign Minister shed light on Nepal’s political development and Nepal’s aspirations to futher promote mutually beneficial relations between Nepal and India.

He also invited Indian investments for utilizing Nepal’s water resources. In this connection, he referred to his talks with Indian Water Resources Minister Dr C.P. Thakur and hoped that the forthcoming visit of the Indian Water Resources Minister would pave the way for making a major breakthrough in this regard.

Minister Bastola emphasized the need for executing medium scale run-of-the river hydroelectric projects through Indian investments which had short gestation periods.

Mr Bastola expressed Nepal’s resolve to reactivate saarc at least in technical and programme levels so that we would be able to eventully organise the llth saarc summit.

After the presentation, Minister Bastola answered queries from the audience which concerned security perception, water resource utilisation, regional cooperation and environmental conservation.

Earlier, welcoming the Minister, president of the icsac Dr. K.B. Lal dwelt on the salient features of Nepal – India relations and their potentialities for bringing about radical transformation in the standards of living of the peoples of Nepal and India.

Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh B. Thapa and Indian ambassador to Nepal K.V. Rajan were also present on the occasion.

Ambassador Thapa also highlighted the activities of B.P. Koirala India- Nepal Foundation with a view to further promoting better understanding and cooperation between the peoples of Nepal and India.

Ambassadors based in New Delhi, forrner ambassadors of India, former foreign secretaries, journalists and intellectuals were also present on the occasion.