Nepal, India to reactivate bilateral border mechanism

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, June 20 (PTI) Nepal and India on Saturday
agreed to reactivate the existing local level bilateral
mechanism to resolve the border dispute between the two
countries and expedite implementation of past agreements and
understandings.

The move to revive the bilateral mechanism was decided
during the meeting between visiting Indian Foreign Secretary
Shivshanker Menon and Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav Kumar
Nepal, during which they also reflected on the current
political situation in the country.

Menon, who arrived here on a two-day visit on Saturday,
his second to Nepal in the last four months, held marathon
meetings with top Nepalese officials, including President Ram
Baran Yadav, Prime Minister Nepal and Maoist chief Prachanda.

To deal with the issue of border dispute both sides
agreed to reactivate the local level border mechanism so that
problems can be addressed as soon as they emerge.

Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs Advisor Rajan Bhattarai
told reporters that Menon extended an invitation to Kumar
Madhav to visit India, dates for which are being worked out
and conveyed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's "good wishes" to
his Nepalese counterpart.

By setting up a bilateral mechanism on border issues,
the two countries hope to take out the sting from a campaign
being run by the former ruling Maoist party, which has alleged
that India has encroached upon Nepalese territories in Dang
district.

The two sides also agreed to initiate measures to tackle
the inundation problem in the bordering regions.

Menon assured India's continued support to Nepal's peace
process, democratic transition and drafting of the new
constitution, Bhattarai said.

Menon, who also met Nepali Congress President Girija
Prasad Koirala and Communist Party of Nepal (Unified Marxist
Leninist) (CPN-UML) chairman Jhalanath Khanal, hoped
Nepal would be able to resolve the current political crisis by
forging cooperation and collaboration among parties.

During the 45-minute talks, both sides also agreed to
expedite agreements and understandings reached between the two
countries during the visit by former Prime Ministers Koirala
and Prachanda to India, he said.

These include construction of sub-highways connecting
borders, railway lines connecting Nepalese cities to India,
installing pipeline to supply oil from India and the 250 MW
hydropower project to help Nepal overcome power crunch.

Earlier, at least six persons were arrested while they
were trying to show black flags to Menon as he came out of the
airport this morning, the police said.

Those arrested were members of the Revolutionary Left
Wing (RLW), a Maoist breakaway faction and the Unified Nepal
National Front, both lesser known anti-India groups, according
to the police.

Madhav Kumar told Menon that there was no problem
between Nepal and India that cannot be resolved through
dialogue.

The Prime Minister also expressed the government's
commitment to take the peace process to its logical end and to
draft the constitution by forging consensus among all
political parties.

Menon's visit comes at a time when the Nepali
Congress-Unified Marxist Leninist (NC-UML) led coalition has
locked horns with the Maoists, who have hit the streets and
blocked the Parliament.

The Foreign Secretary will meet Foreign Minister Sujata
Koirala, Foreign Secretary Gyanchandra Acharya and other
leaders tomorrow before wrapping up his two day official
visit. PTI SBP
SKT