Hon’ble Minister for Foreign Affairs Mrs Sahana Pradhan met with Mrs
Benita Ferrero-Waldner, External Relations
Commissioner of the European Commission today. Both sides exchanged views on
various aspects of Nepal-EC cooperation including new Country Strategy Paper
that is being prepared for the period of 2007-2013. They also discussed the
ongoing peace process, conduct of Constituent Assembly election on November 22,
and current political developments in Nepal including regional and international
issues of mutual concerns and interest. On the occasion, Mrs. Ferrero stressed the need for holding the elections to the
Constituent Assembly on the scheduled date, and reiterated her full support and
commitment to the efforts of the Nepali leadership to take the peace process to a logical
conclusion. She also informed the Foreign Minister that EU would be sending electoral
observers for the CA elections.
Earlier in the day, Hon’ble
Foreign Minister met H.E Mr. Karel de Gucht, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Belgium. The two
ministers exchanged views on matters of mutual interest including bilateral and
regional issues and also discussed at lengths the political situation in both
the countries. During the meeting
Belgian Foreign Minister
reaffirmed his Government’s commitment to support Nepal’s
peace process and send observers for Constituent Assembly elections. He also
informed about Belgium’s
decision to finance some development projects that were committed during his
visit to Nepal
in November 2006. Belgian Foreign
Minister had offered to provide up to € 4 million assistance to complement the
efforts of Nepal
for strengthening democratic process and enhancing socio-economic development.
A new dimension was added to the Nepal-EU relations
today with the establishment of Friends of Nepal Group at the European
Parliament. Hon’ble Foreign Minister Mrs Pradhan and Member of the European Parliament Ms. Neena
Gill jointly inaugurated the launching of Friends
of Nepal Group of the European Parliament (FNG) by lighting traditional Nepali lamp at a ceremony. The launching event was hosted by Mrs Ambika D Luintel, Charge’ d’ Affaires a.i of the
Mission of Nepal to the European Communities. While welcoming the Friends of
Nepal, Hon’ble Foreign Minister appreciated the
strong and sustained support extended by the European Union for the people’s
struggle for democracy in Nepal. She also informed that Nepal is now
preparing for election to the Constituent Assembly in November 22 and
reiterated the commitment of the Government of Nepal to hold the elections in
free and fair manner on the scheduled day.
She further said that Nepal
is facing lot of difficulties and numerous challenges in the transition and
socio-economic transformation of the country. She expressed the need of help
from international community to address these challenges. She also underlined
the need for a peaceful, democratic, stable and prosperous Nepal for peace
and stability in the region and the world at large. The Chair of the Friends of
Nepal Group, Ms. Neena Gill-Member of the European Parliament (MEP) expressed
happiness to have been able to form the Friends of Nepal Group at the European
Parliament and informed that the purpose of forming the Friends of Nepal Group
is to be able to help Nepal
in various ways. She further said that Friends of Nepal will be informally
promoting Nepal
and will be active to extend their support in various economic and political
matters.
Over a dozen Members of the European Parliament
representing various countries and various political parties have signed in for
the Friends of Nepal Group. The members of the newly formed FNG along with high level officials of the
European Commission, officials of the Foreign Ministry of Nepal and the
officials from the Mission of Nepal to the European Communities were present on
the occasion that was organised to mark the formation of the FNG in Brussels.
Friends of Nepal Group of the European Parliament
is chaired by MEP Neena Gill, former Chair of European Parliamentary Delegation
for relations with the countries of South Asia and SAARC and current Chair of
the Delegation for India.
Other core members of Friends of Nepal include Mr Thomas Mann from Germany, Mr. Ecoin
Ryan from Ireland and Mr. Ignasi Guardians from Spain. Over twenty Members of
European Parliament have signed in to join the FNG and many others have
expressed to work in the Group.
Hon’ble Minister attended reception hosted by Charge’ d’Affaires a.i Mrs Ambika Devi Luintel in her honour
on September 18. Representatives of various Nepalese organisations in Belgium,
representatives of various Belgian NGO’s and INGO’s
working in Nepal, Honorary Consul General of Nepal to the countries of BENELUX etc were
also present on the occasion.
Hon’ble Minister for Foreign Affairs Mrs Sahana Pradhan accompanied by the
senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had arrived in Brussels on 18th September. She
was welcomed by Charge’ d’Affaires a.i Mrs Ambika Devi Luintel and other officials of the Embassy at Brussels International Airport.
She will leave Brussels for New York on 21st September.
Embassy of Nepal/
Mission of Nepal to European Communities
19th September 2007
