KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali has said India should open the door for bilateral talks by realizing the fact that Nepal updated political map incorporating Kalapani, Lipu Lekh and Limpiyadhura in the constitution based on national consensus.
Talking to media on Friday afternoon, the Foreign Affairs Minister said there are multiple dimensions of Nepal-India relations and both countries are friends of weal and woes since time immemorial, so any particular issue should not make a difference to the dimensions of our relations.
The Constitution of Nepal (Second Amendment), 2077 has been published in the Nepal Gazette after President Bidya Devi Bhandari on Thursday authenticated the proposal to amend the constitution after its unopposed approval by both houses of the federal parliament. The House of Representatives passed the amendment proposal with a two-thirds majority on June 13 and the National Assembly on June 18 by incorporating Nepal’s updated map in the Coat of Arms.
The Foreign Affairs Minister said that such a problem of border dispute would not have emerged if we had held the meeting of Foreign Affairs Secretary-Level Joint Commission. Stating that the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG) prepared its report with the ToR of expanding the two-country mutual relations in line with the 21st century, Minister Gyawali added current border issues is not something that is tough to resolve through talks.
“We have been making regular efforts for talks and are awaiting the Indian side’s concrete response,” Gyawali added.
As India unilaterally constructed road in Nepal’s territory to link China’s Mansarovar, Nepal took this act seriously and asked the Indian side for talks but the Indian side has not responded to it formally.
Minister Gyawali however termed that the recent remarks of Indian Defense Minister were positive.
He further clarified that there was no need to be connected with other nations to safeguard the national sovereignty and territorial integrity adding that Nepal was one of the few nations that are never colonized and freely used its sovereign rights. Minister Gyawali said that not resolving such an issue does not help any nations willing to be a rising power in the international arena.
On another note, Minister Gyawali urged China and India to seek solutions via talks on border disputes surfaced in the Laddakh area. Nepal is always in favor of peace, stability and regional development, he stressed. He also said that Nepal was saddened with the causalities that occurred over border disputes between China and India in the Laddakh region.
On a query relating to MCC, Minister Gyawali opined that it would be better if it was not disputed in the ruling NCP but an appropriate decision should be taken after it courted controversy. He also urged all to make remarks on MCC with a proper reading of documents.
The Foreign Minister viewed that the Parliament should not waste a long time deciding such as it was connected with the whole effect of international relations of the country.
He further shared that the government was rescuing migrant workers who were stranded and in critical situations. Minister Gyawali said some 15 percent Nepalis are abroad and all could not be returned home owing to capacity and health reasons. Such a sensitive issue should not be politicized, he suggested. RSS
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