KATHMANDU: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Jeevan Ram Shrestha wondered why the European Union still continued concern over Nepal’s flight safety.

During a meeting with Non-Resident Ambassador of the Republic of Poland to Nepal Adam Burakowski, Minister Shrestha put his view that the EU should not put Nepal on the flight safety list at a time when the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) had already removed Nepal from its Significant Security Concerns.

Nepali aviation sector should be allowed to operate direct flights to Europe as the ICAO already stated that Nepal’s aviation and sky were safe as per its indicators, the Minister’s private secretariat stated Minister as reiterating.

The meeting also focused on mutual relations and interests between Nepal and Poland, it has been said.

The Minister stressed the need for further consolidating relations between the two countries.

Also discussed during the meeting were the ways to revive COVID-19 affected tourism of Nepal, and the visa and immigration process for Nepali citizens aspiring to go to Poland for jobs and further education and for Polish citizens returning home from Nepal.

In response, Ambassador Burakowski said preparations were underway to organise an event in Nepal in coming October in memory of a Polish climber Wanda Rutkiewicz who had gone missing during the ascent of Kanchenjunga Mountain in 1992.