Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Nepal-Swiss agree to promote common interests

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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