UK commits to address Gurkha issues

United Kingdom’s Minister of State Hugo Swire Thursday said that the British government would make every possible effort to address the issues related to British Gurkhas.

At a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the UK, Swire responded to the concerns of British Gurkhas.

According to a press statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), DPM Thapa said that given the historical connection of Gurkhas in bilateral relations of the two countries, and in the context of bicentennial celebration, that it was very opportune moment for the UK to address the remaining issues of British Gurkhas once and for all.

He also asked the UK government to do the justice and give recognition to British Gurkhas for their tremendous sacrifices to the British interest and cause.

Swire assured of the increased political, moral and financial support to Nepal in the new context that has arisen after the promulgation of the new constitution in the country.

During the meeting, the matters of bilateral relations, development support from the UK to Nepal, the reconstruction process and exchange of high-level visits were discussed, informed the MoFA.

DPM Thapa hoped that there would be other high political visits, like the visit of Prince Harry, in the days to come.

Earlier, DPM Thapa held a meeting with Minister of State at the Department for International Development (DFID) Desmond Swayne during which they discussed about the development cooperation between the two countries.

Appreciating the support of the UK in Nepal’s development efforts, the DPM urged Swayne to increase the support in order to help institutionalizing the political achievements made so far.

He requested the British government to support Nepal through government channel as far as possible.

DPM Thapa was accompanied by Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Charge d’Affairs at the Nepalese Embassy in London, Bharat Kumar Regmi and under secretary at the MoFA.

In the evening, DPM Thapa unveiled special souvenir director ‘Taste of Nepal UK’ published by Nepalese Caterers Association (UK) in association with the Embassy of Nepal, London.

He is scheduled to return in Kathmandu Friday.