Nepal govt all set to buy building for embassy in America

Hom Lamsal / Ws, June 14: The process, which was initiated by the Nepal government 40 years ago, for buying a building for Nepali embassy in the United States of America has come to a final stage.

“We have already started looking for a building in a proper location as soon as we received a circulation from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Jeevan Prakash Shrestha, spokesperson of the Nepali Embassy in America.

Shrestha further said the building will have a sufficient parking area to manage vehicle pressure from the diplomats and that the location will be a bit farther from the current location.

It has been more than 70 years since Nepal established diplomatic ties with the United States of America. Now, USA has its own building in Kathmandu. In this contest, Nepal government is also trying to own a building of its own in the USA with a hope that it would further embolden diplomatic ties between the two countries.

The Ministry of Finance allocates Rs 3 billion a year for purchasing a building for Nepali embassy but it is being frozen, a former ambassador said on the condition of anonymity.

All be buildings being used for Nepali embassies across the world are on rent except the building for Nepali UN Mission based in New York, the residential building used by Durga Prasad Bhattarai, ambassador and permanent representative of Nepal to the United Nations in New York City, consular office, Nepali Embassy’s building in United Kingdom, ambassador’s residential building in Belgium and Nepali Embassy’s building in Paris.

There are currently seven staffers in the Embassy of Nepal based in Washington DC. Courtesy: Myrepublica