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The newly appointed Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC), Md Golam Sarwar, paid a courtesy call on President Ram Chandra Paudel in Sheetal Niwas on Wednesday.

During the meeting, President Paudel said that Nepal, as the founding member and the current Chair of SAARC, is fully committed to move forward the SAARC process in the spirit of unity and solidarity among the member countries.

The President also expressed his hope that the SAARC other member nations too will give an impetus to the SAARC by means of cooperation and understanding, the Office of the President stated in a media release.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Prakash Saud is preparing to fly to Russia for discussions on the death of Nepali nationals engaged in the ongoing war against Ukraine, the status of those missing in action and the repatriation of the youths still engaged in the war alongside the Russians. 

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is in consultation with Moscow to set the date for the visit. Minister Saud is doing spadework for talks with his Russian counterpart regarding the death, injury and status of those Nepali recruits, who have gone missing while fighting for the Russian army. 

There are no bilateral provisions on recruitment in the Russian forces, but reports suggest that Nepalis are serving alongside the Russians and fighters from a number of other countries lured by certain ‘incentives’. 

Moscow has not responded to Nepal’s repeated requests for information about the Nepalis in the Russian army, though the government has said that hundreds of Nepalis have been serving the Russians, more than 100 have gone missing and 11 Nepalis have died in the war so far.

According to Saud, 115 families of the Nepali youths, who have joined the Russian army, have submitted a request at the ministry calling for their early repatriation. We have asked Russia to repatriate the Nepalis serving its army and compensate the families of those killed in action, he said. 

Despite repeated requests from Nepal, no response has come from Russia, which recently passed a law allowing foreigners to join its army with a promise to provide them citizenship once they fulfill set criteria. 

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal informed the Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of the House of Representatives that India has signed an agreement to purchase 10, 000 megawatt of electricity from Nepal in 10 years.

Though India has agreed to procure electricity from Nepal, it has reservations pertaining to the purchase of power produced by the Chinese companies.

During the meeting of the parliamentary committee on Wednesday, Prime Minister Dahal said that attempts are being made to cajole India to buy electricity produced by the Chinese companies in Nepal.

The Prime Minister said that India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar during his visit to Nepal a few days ago had signed a long-term power agreement.

“No agreement has been made to take the investment of India only. There is a provision that any country can produce electricity in Nepal. India has signed an agreement to purchase 10, 000 megawatt of electricity from Nepal in 10 years,” PM Dahal said, adding, “The Indian government, however, is reluctant to purchase electricity produced by Chinese companies in Nepal.”

Prime Minister Dahal said that attempts are being made to persuade India to buy the electricity from the hydropower projects invested by the Chinese company.

Nepali Ambassador to Switzerland Ram Prasad Subedi presented a letter of credence to Swiss President Viola Amherd amidst a special ceremony organized at the Federal Palace in Bern, Switzerland.

Upon arrival at the Palace, the Ambassador was accorded Guard of Honour.

Ambassador Subedi was granted an audience by the President Amherd where he conveyed greetings and best wishes from the President Ram Chandra Paudel and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal to the Swiss President’s personal health and happiness as well as for the continued peace, progress and prosperity of the people of Switzerland, reads a statement issued by the Embassy of Nepal in Geneva on Tuesday.

While underscoring the excellent bilateral relations between Nepal and Switzerland, Ambassador Subedi expressed his commitment to work towards further strengthening bilateral ties and expanding the areas of cooperation. He further elaborated about the opportunities to work together in the areas of trade, tourism and investment. He also acknowledged the Swiss support through Swiss Development Cooperation in Nepal, including in the peace process.

President Amherd while echoing the similar sentiments stated that Nepal and Switzerland enjoy long standing friendly relations and reaffirmed the strong bonds of goodwill and friendship between the two peoples, and assured the Ambassador of full cooperation in the discharge of his duties, according to the statement.

Senior officials of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs as well as spouse Jyoti Rijal Subedi, Deputy Chief of Mission Paras Pandit and First Secretary Amar Rai were present on the occasion.

Later in the evening, Ambassador Subedi called on Alexandre Fasel, State Secretary of Swiss Confederation at the Federal Palace in Bern.

They discussed exploring the opportunities for working together for the meeting of high-level political leaders, holding regular meetings of bilateral consultation mechanisms, promoting economic cooperation and cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.