Kathmandu,
Feb. 28: Nepal and Switzerland have agreed to promote multilateral issues of
common interests for common benefits and cooperate in multilateral forums.
In
a meeting held on the sidelines of the 34th Session of the Human
Rights Council, that is ongoing in Geneva, Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr.
Prakash Sharan Mahat and his Swiss counterpart, Head of the Federal Department
of Foreign Affairs Didier Burkhalter have agreed on promoting issues of common
benefits along with cooperation in human rights issues and managed migration.
Dr.
Mahat requested Didier for the support of the Swiss for the candidature of
Nepal to the Human Right Council, said the Permanent Mission of Nepal in
Geneva.
"Various
aspects of cooperation between the two countries, and the multilateral issues
of common interests were discussed during the meeting. The Swiss Foreign
Minister underscored the need to make the assistance result-oriented and
beneficial for Nepalese people, and assured the Swiss development assistance to
Nepal would continue in future," read the statement.
Dr.
Mahat had reiterated that Nepal was in need of more support and promotion of
investment in infrastructure development activities to improve connectivity.
Dr.
Mahat also met with UN High Commissioner for Refugee Fillippo Grandi at UNHCR
office and discussed the issue of Bhutanese refugee sheltered in Nepal.
He
clearly stated that it was the responsibility of Bhutan to take back the
Bhutanese who are not resettled in third countries.
"It
was an inalienable right of the Bhutanese refugees, wherever they have been
settled, to go back to their homeland," he said.
"The
High Commissioner noted that he was clear about the position of Nepal on the
Bhutanese refugees and would do his best, within his means, in further
continuing the third country resettlement, and exert moral pressure for
voluntary repatriation. He also said that UNHCR would continue supporting the
remaining refugees in the camps," read the statement.
Dr.
Mahat reached Geneva on Sunday and is accompanied by Rajib Gautam, Secretary at
the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, Ambassador/PR as
well as officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent
Mission of Nepal in Geneva.
The
Human Rights Council session will continue until 24 March 2017.
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