Nepal ready to collaborate with ACD: Minister Saud

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud has said that Nepal has given top priority to the Asian Cooperation Dialogue.

Nepal accords top priority to regional initiatives including the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD). He was speaking at the conference of ministers of Asian countries held at the United Nations headquarters on Wednesday.

Minister Saud also added that Nepal is ready to work with all members of the ACD in accordance with its objectives and agree to successfully implement the key issues it has adopted.

Nepal became a member of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue in March 2016.

The ACD was established in June 2002 in Cha-Am, Thailand, where 18 Asian Foreign Ministers met together for the first time.

The ACD is a continent-wide forum, the first of its kind in Asia, which aims to constitute the missing link in Asia by incorporating every Asian country and building an Asian Community without duplicating other organizations or creating a bloc against others.

A key principle is to consolidate Asian strengths and fortify Asia's competitiveness by maximizing the diversity and rich resources evident in Asia.

The core values of the ACD are positive thinking; informality; voluntarism; non-institutionalization; openness; respect for diversity; the comfort level of member countries; and the evolving nature of the ACD process, it is stated in the official website of the regional body.

PM Dahal, Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas hold meeting in New York

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, who is in New York to represent Nepal in the 78th General Assembly of the United Nations, and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store held a meeting at the United Nations Headquarters on Wednesday.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Dahal and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas held important discussions on bilateral relations and multilateral cooperation.

Minister for Foreign Affairs NP Saud, Foreign Secretary Bharatraj Paudel, Joint Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Sewa Lamsal were present in the meeting.

 

Deuba under pressure to pull out of coalition

The Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government is apparently teetering on the edge of a precipice. Its failure to deliver has sparked waves of anger and discontent within the primary ruling coalition partner, Nepali Congress. 

Within the ranks of NC, many leaders are convinced that Sher Bahadur Deuba, the party president, has allowed the government to run amok, with no accountability to the public. They are of the view that this coalition is firmly in the grip of Dahal's decision-making monopoly.

Deuba’s rival in the party, Shekhar Koirala, is the foremost critic of the Dahal administration. He has been openly advocating for seeking an alternative to the faltering government. Congress, the largest party in the House of Representatives, finds itself in a coalition with Maoists and various fringe parties, all united in their mission to prevent CPN-UML from seizing power. Yet, party leaders lament that Deuba remains conspicuously passive, failing to provide valuable input to the government or curb its penchant for unilateral decision-making.

Nine months into its tenure, the Dahal-led government struggles to maintain good governance, generate employment opportunities, resuscitate the flagging economy, and tame the surging inflation rate—a source of mounting discontent among the populace. But NC President Deuba, Prime Minister Dahal’s main coalition partner, has seemingly turned a blind eye. 

Dahal has been attempting to tout an anti-corruption drive as a major accomplishment of his government, a claim hotly disputed by many NC leaders. While Deuba and his supporters, who hold crucial ministerial positions, favor continuing the current coalition, others within the party harbor deep reservations.

Recent times have seen the Dahal-Deuba relationship grow frostier, though it has not reached the point of coalition dissolution. Deuba is dissatisfied with the Dahal administration’s selective approach to investigating corruption scandals. In a recent meeting, Deuba pressed Dahal to remove Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, primarily concerned about the arrest of his close aide, Bal Krishna Khand, in the fake Bhutanese refugee scandal. 

Despite this tension, leaders assert that Deuba has not committed to leaving the coalition just yet, fearing it would open the door for Dahal to form alliances with the UML and Rastirya Swatantra Party. 

Deuba, with no plans to vie for the party presidency again, intends to retire from active politics by becoming prime minister for a record sixth time. This ambition has led him to overlook the government's inefficiencies.

However, senior party leader Koirala is actively working to dismantle the existing coalition. It remains uncertain whether this is a mere bargaining tactic with Deuba or a genuine effort to change the government. Koirala has been reaching out to influential youth leaders in the party, such as Gagan Kumar Thapa, Bishwa Prakash Sharma and Pradeep Poudel, to build a united front and exert pressure on Deuba to remove Dahal from the government. 

To compel Deuba to consider leaving the current coalition, Koirala called a meeting with his supporters, including Thapa, Sharma and Poudel, on Tuesday. During the meeting, leaders argued that the government’s failure to address the country’s critical issues necessitates an alternative. 

Central Working Committee member Jeeven Pariyar says that despite being in the government, the people have not felt its impact. The government's inability to fulfill its objective duties and meet even the minimum expectations of the people have left many disillusioned, he adds.

But Thapa, who is himself aspiring to vie for the post of party president against Koirala, seems to have softened his stance on the government in recent months. As Deuba remains passive and Vice-President Purna Bahadur Khadka focuses on party matters, Thapa is working to strengthen his position within the party.

Koirala, on the other hand, has become more vocal and aggressive against the current coalition. In a recent public address, he did not mince words when it came to criticizing the government. He accused Prime Minister Dahal of fostering conflict and confrontation in the country through his rhetoric, particularly his endorsement of identity-based federalism. 

Koirala emphasized that with 90 seats in the Parliament, the NC was discussing the way forward internally. He added that the continuation of the current government would be disastrous for the country. He even urged Deuba to assume the mantle of the next prime minister.

Some see Koirala’s suggestion for Deuba to take over the premiership as an act of extending overture to win the latter’s endorsement for the Congress presidency. 

The Koirala faction’s displeasure with Deuba’s monopoly over intra-party affairs is no secret. They believe Deuba has failed to take a consultative approach in decisions related to the crisis in Koshi province, the selection of parliamentary committee heads, and appointments in the party’s sister organizations. In an attempt to draw attention to these issues, Koirala met with Deuba at his residence on Wednesday.

However, Koirala and Thapa combined lack the authority to make decisions regarding coalition changes and intra-party matters, as Deuba wields significant influence in both the party’s Central Committee and the Parliamentary Party. Nevertheless, the pressure is mounting on Deuba in light of the government’s performance.

Despite having nine ministers in the coalition government, Congress has been unable to steer the Dahal-led government toward effectively addressing the pressing issues facing the country. As the Dahal government shows no signs of improvement and public frustration mounts, Deuba is under increasing pressure from various quarters to reconsider the NC’s role in the coalition. 

 

Some observers suggest that the fate of the current government will ultimately be sealed upon Prime Minister Dahal’s return from his China visit.

 

US congratulates Nepal on Constitution Day

The United States of America has congratulated the entire Nepali community on the occasion of the Constitution Day- 2080 BS (2023).

Issuing a press statement today, the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended best wishes to the Nepali community on the occasion of Nepal's Constitution Day. 

"On behalf of the United States of America, I extend my warmest congratulations to the people of Nepal on the occasion of Nepal’s Constitution Day on September 20. This is a moment to recognize Nepal’s achievements and the enduring friendship between our nations," he said in the statement.

He stated that robust people-to-people ties between Nepal and the US are the cornerstone of bilateral relationship, fostering understanding, trust, and goodwill.

 "As we commemorate this special day, we look to renew our commitment to these invaluable connections that promote peace, cooperation, and mutual prosperity between our two nations," he added.