India emphasizing signing of new extradition treaty, placing sky marshals

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: Home Minister Bhim Bahadur Rawal , following a discussions in India with his colleagues revealed Sunday New Delhi has prioritized signing a new extradition treaty and placing sky marshals at Tribhuvan International Airport.
Rawal indicated Nepal is not yet ready to sign the agreement or allow air marshals.
Home secretaries of the two countries has signed the extradition agreement during the regime of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala.
“India has from before placed special emphasis on a extradition treaty and sky marshals. This time as well, India showed special interest.
“India this time prioritized increase in mutual cooperation for control of organized cross-border crime and reinforcing security management at our international airport,” Rawal told Kantipur.
“Yes. China and Pakistan have proposed [signing extradition treaties].Other countries, during discussions have raised the matter,” he said in reply to a question.
The home minister said an environment has to be created before the treaty can be signed or air marshals deployed in Nepal.
“”Either there should be agreement in parliament or between political parties. General environment should also be crated,” he said.

Police evict encroachers

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: At least 18 persons were injured Sunday morning when police lobbed teargas shells to evicted settlers from land belonging to a Hindu temple in Mohottari, reports from the district said.
One person is seious.
Police had arrested and released 85 pwersons 21 days ago telling them to vacate the land.
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Jhalanath Khanal attending memorial meet for Jyoti Basu

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: UML Chairman Jhalanath Khanal is attending a memorial meeting for former West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti
Basu in Kolkata organized by the left front government.
Khanal reports home Monday.
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Manmohan Singh coming March

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: What could be seen here as New Delhi’s effort to address Nepal’s call for reciprocity to high-level bilateral visits, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan SInh is likely to visit Nepal sometime during March-April period, The Kathmandu Post reports.
The dates will be finalized after President Dr,Ram Baran Yadav returns home from his scheduled four-day India visit, which is scheduled to begin Feb.15.
“It would not be good to host the visit in May as the deadline for promulgating of the constitution will then be too close, “ said a Foreign Ministry official.” Many will interpret the visit in their own ways, depending on whether the constitution is drafted by then or not.”
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Nepali in UN Iraqi mission

Kathmandu, 24 Jan.: Former foreign secretary and Permanent Representative to the UN Madhu Raman Acharya has been appointed director of the UN political mission in Iraq, Nagarik reports from Washington.
Acharya was appointed by Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon for one year at United Nations Mission in Iraq last week.
The appointment was political.
He is the first Nepali ‘civilian’ appointed to the post.
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MEDIA GOOGLE

“Even eight months after becoming prime minister, you’ve been unable to make much contribution to draft a constitution and take the peace process to a logical conclusion. Your government also hasn’t prepared a plan for the management of integration of Maoist combatants.”

(Girija Prasad Koirala to PM Nepal, Rajdhani, 24 Jan.)

‘Health [of Krishna Prasad Bhattarai] is alright. He has left taking fluids [drink] for sometime. But I give him yarshagumba thinking it will be god for his health.”

(Caretaker Kapali, Kantipur, 24 Jan.)

“Madhavbadu! You know the many problems while drafting a constitution. You’ve again got an opportunity. Do a good job.”

(Krishna Prasad Bhattarai to PM Nepal, Annapurna Post, 24 Jan.)

“Besides the Prime Minister, it would always be better if they make me also an invitee member as I am the foreign minister. The mechanism [HLPM chaired by father Girija] will have no much significance otherwise.”

(Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, The Himalayan Times, 24 Jan.)