PM Dahal and Foreign Minister meet US Assistant Secretry Desai

Kathmandu / Sept 4: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed his gratefulness to the United States America for its cooperation to take ahead the national priority agendas including completion of Nepal’s peace process, implementation of the new constitution, post-earthquake reconstruction and local body election.

In a meeting with US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs, Nisha Desain, at PM’s Baluwatar residence this evening, Prime Minister Dahal thanked US cooperation to advance Nepal’s peace process, Constituent Assembly election, promulgation of the new Constitution, post-earthquake reconstruction, relief to earthquake survivors and development efforts, and also wished to get continued cooperation from US in coming days.

During the meet, Prime Minister Dahal had expected US cooperation in the areas of constitution’s implementation, local, provincial and central level elections and reconstruction along with development works., according to PM Dahal’s Press Advisor Govinda Acharya,

The US Assistant Secretary of State had noted that the US would extend its cooperation to Nepal’s efforts to the journey of progress and prosperity while supporting the national agenda ut forth by the Prime Minister.

Also present on the occasion was US Ambassador to Nepal Alaina Teplitz.

US Assistant Secretary Desai on Foreign Minister Mahat

Meanwhile, the US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal on Sunday called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat at the ministry in Singha Durbar.

The meeting dwelt on matters related to enhance bilateral relations and mutual interests of Nepal and the United States of America, it is stated.

During the meeting, Minister Dr Mahat is said to have lauded assistances the US has provided during and aftermath of the 25 April 2015 earthquake and the supports it has been providing for the development of Nepal since long.

In return, the Assistant Secretary Desai proposed to form a bilateral joint mechanism to further strengthen relations between Nepal and the US.

Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of State Desai enquired whether or not Nepal is committed to keep the remaining 10,000 Bhutanese refugees following repatriation of hundreds of Bhutanese refugees to third countries from Nepal under the UNHCR refugee resettlement programmes.

In response, Dr Mahat said Nepal sheltered the refugees on humanitarian ground and it has been advocating for their unconditional and respectful return to their county.

The Minister also sought international community’s support to Nepal’s stance to that end.

Nepal has been insisting that Bhutan also should create environment for the refugees to return their home, he said. RSS