KATHMANDU: Minister for Finance Dr. Yuba Raj Khatiwada has reiterated that Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact has to be ratified as its in Nepal’s interest.
Addressing questions raised by the lawmakers in the parliament on Tuesday, Minister Khatiwada said that Nepal can not ignore or break MCC compact as it is in the national interest.
Dr. Khatiwada requested the lawmakers to think about the impact of breaching the compact.
“I request lawmakers here to think about the impact of breaking the deal,” Khatiwada told the parliament on Tuesday adding, “Breaking this will blur our image in the international community. I, therefore, request the conscientious lawmakers to act wisely in such issues.”
Amid the ongoing dispute on whether to ratify the compact or not, Finance Minister Khatiwada made the government’s position clear by saying that the MCC has to ratified as it is in the best interest of Nepal.
Dr. Khatiwada also clarified that although the bylaws relating to the MCC Compact could be amended, it would be unwise to propose the amendment of the compact itself.
“The bylaws of the compact can be amended but, we cannot breach the compact, it mars Nepal’s stand in international arena,” Dr. Khatiwada said ahead, “More than who signed the compact or who is in the Ministry, we have to remember that it is the compact signed by Nepal. It should be enforced, let the parliament take it more wisely.”
Although MCC was tabled in the parliament one year before, the internal conflict within the ruling party has somehow deterred the compact from parliamentary ratification.
When most of the political parties including the main opposition in the parliament Nepali Congress have shown readiness to ratify the compact, the ruling party NCP’s internal conflict has put off the compact from being formally forwarded for discussion in the parliament.
As per the MCC Compact Nepal will receive 55 billion rupees grant for energy and road construction sector.
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