MORE DETAILS OM PM'S NEW YORK ENGAGMENTS

MORE DETAILS ON PM BHATTARAIS' ENGAGEMENTS IN NEW YORK




Kathmandu, 23 Sept.: Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai Thursday attended the opening of the ‘General Debate’ segment of the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. On the sidelines, he met top leaders including UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US president Barack Obama, The Rising Nepal reports.
According to the Prime Minister’s personal secretariat, discussions about the progress of peace and constitution writing were held during the meeting between Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai and UN Secretary General Ban.
The Prime Minister told Ban that he was effortful in moving ahead the peace and constitution process by building consensus with political parties.
Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai held the discussion during the luncheon hosted by UN chief Ban in honor of the heads of delegation attending the 66th session of the UN General Assembly.
The PM will be holding a separate meeting with Ban on Sept 24.
The Prime Minister also held a brief discussion with US president Obama during the reception hosted by the US president. The two leaders talked about the peace and constitution building.
"During the reception the Prime Minister had a brief exchange with President Obama," read a press release by the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN.
The Prime Minister also met Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakchhe and explored the ways of collaboration for the development of Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
The two leaders also exchanged views on strengthening of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) for deepening the regional integration and enhanced level of cooperation among member states for the benefit of the entire region," said the statement.
Similarly, Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai held discussions with Bhutanese Prime Minister Jigme Y Thinley. Issues related to home return of the Bhutanese refugees living in Nepal featured during their discussions.
In the meeting the two leaders exchanged views on the promotion of bilateral relations as well as regional cooperation under SAARC.
Responding to PM Dr Bhattarai’s request to repatriate the refugees, the Bhutanese Prime Minister said that his country was ready to take back its nationals after conducting re-verification of the refugees.
Nepal’s Permanent Representative to UN Gyan Chandra Acharya and acting foreign secretary Durga Prasad Bhattarai were present in all bilateral meetings
In the beginning of ‘General Debate’, the UN Secretary-General presented the ‘Report of the work of the Organisation’.
Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai will address the 66th Session of UN General Assembly on 24 September during its morning session.
Call on by UN high officials:
Helen Clark, Chief Administrator of UNDP, called on Prime Minister Dr. Bhattarai. In the meeting, Clark provided a briefing on UNDP’s ongoing work in Nepal and said that UNDP will continue supporting Nepal’s development efforts. The Prime Minister appreciated UNDP’s ongoing work and called for enhanced level of support to address multiple development challenges facing Nepal.
Similarly, Anthony Lake, Executive Director of UNICEF called on the Prime Minister and briefed on the UNICEF’s effort in Nepal as well as its global activities for saving the lives of children and protecting their rights.
Meanwhile, PM Dr. Bhattarai met with a group of local Nepali media persons in the Permanent
Mission of Nepal to the United Nations.
While interacting with local Nepali media persons, Dr Bhattarai highlighted the priorities of his government that included completion of the peace process and writing of constitution as well as providing immediate relief to people, and promoting good governance.
On Nepal’s participation in the 66th Session of UNGA, he underlined the importance that Nepal has attached to the United Nations as a multilateral forum.
The Prime Minister stated that Nepal will join the international community in raising voices for just and equitable international order based on sovereignty, equality, territorial integrity and non-interference on internal matters.
Equally important, Nepal will call for an inclusive development keeping in the centre the interest of land-locked and least developed countries to overcome their structural constraints for accelerated economic development, he said. The Prime Minister said that he will make efforts to generate goodwill and support for peace and development in Nepal.
The PM will be holding a separate press conference at the Dag Hammarskjold Library inside the UN premises on 23 September.
DPM and FM attended ‘General Debate’ and held bilateral meetings:
Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha ‘Prakash’ attended the opening of ‘General Debate’ segment of 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly on Thursday.
According to the Mission’s statement, Shrestha held a bilateral meeting with Janos Martony, Foreign Minister of Hungary. The two ministers discussed the matters of mutual concern and interest and exchanged views on strengthening bilateral relations.
Similarly, the DPM held a bilateral meeting with Bruno Rodriguez, Foreign Minister of Cuba and exchanged views on the matters of mutual interest for deepening cooperation between the two countries.
Shrestha also held talks with Connie Hedegaard, European Commissioner for Climate Action. Shrestha called for early conclusion of a legally binding instrument on climate change. He said that countries like Nepal have been disproportionately affected by the adverse impacts of climate change.
He called for operationalisation of Green Climate Fund with due share going to LDCs. Hedegaard said the European Union will give due consideration to LDCs difficulties.
Shrestha also attended the side event to showcase progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals "MDG Countdown" hosted by United Kingdom’s Secretary of State for International Development Cooperation Andrew Mitchell, and Rajiv Shah, Administrator of USAID.
Multi-sectoral Stakeholders meeting on Scaling-up Nutrition:
Dr. Sudha Sharma, Secretary of Ministry of Health and Population, made a presentation on Nepal’s progress on nutrition program at the multi-sectoral stakeholders meeting held in UNICEF headquarter Thursday. The progress that Nepal has made on scaling-up nutrition program was appreciated by the participants.
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