Statement by Hon'ble Narendra Bikram Shah, Foreign Minister of Nepal on his Visit to
Bhutan
January 26, 2003
Kathmandu, Nepal
I made a brief visit to Bhutan for two purposes.
- One purpose was to consult with the Royal Government of Bhutan on
SAARC matters. Both Bhutan and Nepal feel strongly that SAARC process should
continue to go forward and should not be impeded. We also feel that any
initiative or move which is not well thought out and which is made in haste
may not bring the desired result at this time. We will be watching
developments closely and considering our position constantly.
- Second, I had discussions with the Bhutanese authorities including
the Prime Minister and the Foreign Minister on the long-pending refugee
situation. I had the good fortune to be received in audience by His Majesty
the King of Bhutan. Nepal and Bhutan both feel that we should not leave the
wound festering any longer. In a few days time, the Foreign Minister of
Bhutan will come to Nepal with a delegation to participate in the 12th round
of joint ministerial committee meeting. Within a few days afterwards, the
joint verification teams of the two countries will start categorizing the
refugees in the Khudunabari Camp whose papers have already been collected
and processed. We have also agreed that the joint ministerial committee
headed by the two foreign ministers will meet again in the 13th round,
possibly in March, to supervise the work of the joint verification teams and
to expedite the task of repatriation of the refugees.
|
