KATHMANDU: US Secretary of State Michael R Pompeo has sent a congratulatory letter to Prime Minister KP Oli for completing the first year in office.
In a letter addressed to PM Oli, Pompeo said, “Dear Mr. Prime Minister: Congratulations on the completion of your first year in office, a particularly auspicious anniversary after the 2017 elections that constituted a milestone on Nepal’s democratic journey.”
In his letter, Pompeo has said that when he met with Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali recently, he reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Nepal-US relationship. “My meeting with Foreign Minister Gyawali consolidated some important commitments, including the paramount importance of ensuring the $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation Compact moves forward according to the agreed-upon principles,” the letter said.
He has also appreciated Foreign Minister Gyawali’s assurance that the Government of Nepal would uphold its international obligations, including the binding agreements that govern our bilateral assistance and the UN Security Council sanctions compelling North Korea to abandon its nuclear program.
Pompeo, in the letter, has further stated that as Nepal strives to realize the fruits of peace and political stability, he believed it will become increasingly apparent that the U.S. emphasis on a free and open Indo-Pacific region, providing for the prosperity, sovereignty, and security of every country, is very much in Nepal’s own interest.
“Recognizing your own experience as a political prisoner, I welcomed Foreign Minister Gyawali’s reassurance that Nepal would continue to protect the rights of Tibetans in Nepal, particularly the principle of non-refoulement, which ensures that individuals will not be returned to a country where they face serious threats to their life or their religious, cultural, and linguistic freedoms,” the letter said.
Pompeo, in the letter, has further stated that as Nepal strives to realize the fruits of peace and political stability, he believed it will become increasingly apparent that the U.S. emphasis on a free and open Indo-Pacific region, providing for the prosperity, sovereignty, and security of every country, is very much in Nepal’s own interest.
“I was honored by Foreign Minister Gyawali’s invitation to visit Nepal. Both the American and Nepali people have high expectations for our relationship. As we look to elevate U.S.-Nepal ties, let us move forward in a spirit of genuine partnership, not only in the tone of our public comments but also in the progress we make through concrete action on our commitments,” he said.
“I have charged Ambassador Berry with ensuring we deliver on those expectations, including by demonstrating tangible results in the coming months,” he said in the letter.
Comment