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Japanese Ambassador to Nepal, Kikuta Yutaka, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today.

During the meeting held at the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar, they discussed traditional relations between the two countries, mutual welfare and exchange of cooperation.

Possible support from Japanese government for reconstruction of BP highway damaged by recent landslide and flood also featured in the meeting.

Secretary at the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport, Keshav Kumar Sharma, Joint-Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Krishna Prasad Dhakal, among others were present on the occasion.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli received the Bijaya Dashami tika and jamara from his father Mohan Prasad Oli at the auspicious time of 11.36 am on the occasion of the Bada Dashain festival today.

On the occasion, PM Oli gave tika and jamara to his spouse Radhika Shakya and members of his family, according to the Prime Minister's Secretariat.

This time, Prime Minister Oli will not be offering tika and jamara to the general public due to the adverse situation in the country in the aftermath of natural disasters like flooding, landslide and inundation triggered by incessant rains on September 27 and 28, the PM Secretariat said.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has wished cooperation and harmony on the occasion of the Bijaya Dashami today.

Giving a video message on the occasion of the Bijaya Dashami 2081, PM Oli extended best wishes to all Nepalis living in the country and abroad.

He requested all Nepalis to extend assistance from their respective places to return the normalcy as it was before the disaster. "Irrespective of the places we are living now, I urge all to extend support to the government for assuaging the agony of those who underwent huge suffering in the recent disaster," PM Oli said in the message.

He reminded that the tika ceremony of the Dashain festival could not be that joyful as it used to be. "I'm not feeling joyful as the happiness of Nepali sisters and brothers was seized by the disaster occurred some days back that caused a huge loss of lives including innocent children and senior ones, injured many others and destroyed property," PM Oli added.

The PM reminded that the government was working actively for the rescue, relief distribution and rehabilitation. "The disaster massively damaged crops. The farmers will be compensated and damaged housed reconstructed and handed over soon," PM Oli said, urging the disaster survivors to be assured of assistance and others to celebrate the festival. Moreover, the PM urged the disaster survivors for patience because the government was aware of its responsibility towards them. "As I'm leading the government, I've more responsibility to pay heed to those suffering after the recent disaster.

The families of the victims would be provided assistance, reconstruction forwarded on time and transportation resumed in the wake of the festival. I call for patience at this moment." 

On Monday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their respective visits to New York for the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

“The India-Nepal friendship is very robust, and we look forward to adding even more momentum to our ties. Our talks focused on issues such as energy, technology, and trade,” Modi said while sharing pictures with Oli on his X account.

Prime Minister Oli also met with the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Kuwait, Sheikh Sabah Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Mubarak Al-Sabah, at Kuwait’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations. Both leaders discussed matters of mutual interest and explored ways to further strengthen ties between Nepal and Kuwait.

On Sunday, PM Oli delivered a compelling address at the “Summit of the Future” session at the UN headquarters in New York. Representing the Group of Least Developed Countries (LDCs), he highlighted the pressing global challenges facing LDCs, with a focus on poverty, industrialization, and climate justice.

In his speech, PM Oli emphasized the urgent need for industrialization and increased production to combat poverty, a shared challenge for LDCs. He noted that while these countries contribute minimally to global greenhouse gas emissions, they bear the brunt of climate change’s devastating impacts. He called on developed nations to increase their investment in climate financing, underscoring the need for global solidarity.

“Millions of children in LDCs go hungry every day, deprived of their basic rights to food and education,” PM Oli said, stressing that poverty is a significant barrier to a sustainable future for the world’s most vulnerable. He urged for concerted international efforts toward poverty alleviation and highlighted the moral imperative for wealthier nations to address growing inequality.

PM Oli also expressed concern over unmet commitments to Official Development Assistance (ODA), delayed international support, and rising debt distress in LDCs. He raised the issue of the digital divide, which continues to widen the gap between rich and poor countries, and criticized the global financial and trading systems for being fundamentally unfair to LDCs.

Despite these challenges, PM Oli spoke optimistically about the future, welcoming the adoption of the “Pact for the Future” as a blueprint for a peaceful, prosperous, and sustainable world. He called for a renewed commitment to multilateralism and stronger global governance structures that include LDCs in decision-making processes.

The Prime Minister concluded by urging global leaders to invest in productive capacities, sustainable development, and rural upliftment, advocating for meaningful partnerships to ensure equitable progress for all nations.

In addition to his discussions with Prime Minister Modi, Prime Minister Oli held a meeting with UN Secretary-General António Guterres on Sunday. During their conversation, Guterres expressed gratitude for Nepal’s vital contributions to UN peacekeeping operations. Nepal has long been recognized as a steadfast contributor of troops and police to UN missions, reflecting the country’s commitment to maintaining international peace and security.

The two leaders discussed several critical issues, including Nepal’s leadership role as Chair of the Global Coordination Bureau for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Guterres highlighted the necessity of addressing climate change, particularly concerning mountain regions, which are especially vulnerable to environmental changes. The conversation also emphasized the importance of advancing Nepal’s transitional justice process, an issue of significant national importance.

In a post on X, Prime Minister Oli described the meeting as productive, focusing on essential topics such as transitional justice and climate justice. He expressed optimism about strengthening partnerships for a better future, highlighting Nepal’s commitment to social justice and sustainable development.

According to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN, the discussions covered various aspects of Nepal-UN cooperation. Guterres commended Nepal for its unwavering dedication to the principles outlined in the UN Charter. He reiterated that addressing climate change is a top priority for the UN, particularly the urgent need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assist vulnerable mountain countries like Nepal. The Secretary-General emphasized that adequate climate finance is essential for developing countries, including LDCs, to effectively engage in both mitigation and adaptation efforts.

Prime Minister Oli informed Guterres about the recent enactment of Nepal’s transitional justice law, which adopts a victim-centric approach and aligns with guidance from the Supreme Court and international norms. He assured the Secretary-General of the government’s commitment to implementing this law smoothly to resolve transitional justice issues once and for all.

Furthermore, the Prime Minister highlighted the devastating impacts of climate change on Nepal, specifically mentioning the permafrost issues in Thame, Solukhumbu, that have arisen due to global warming. He stressed the urgency of addressing these challenges and indicated that Nepal would be convening the Sagarmatha Sambad—a dialogue platform focused on the mountain ecosystem—inviting Guterres to participate.

Oli also articulated Nepal’s ambition to graduate from the LDC category by 2026 and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. He urged Guterres to advocate for enhanced development assistance from the international community to support this goal.

During their meeting, Prime Minister Oli reaffirmed Nepal’s commitment to maintaining international peace and security, as the country is the largest Troops and Police Contributing Country (TPCC) to UN peace missions. He appealed to Guterres for the appointment of high-level positions for Nepal both at the UN headquarters and in the field.

Guterres expressed deep concern over the accelerated melting of glaciers and the resultant damage, assuring Prime Minister Oli of his commitment to enhancing resources within the Loss and Damage Fund to support affected countries.

Prime Minister Oli was accompanied by several high-ranking officials, including Minister for Foreign Affairs Arzu Rana Deuba, Chief Advisor to the Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Rimal, Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal, Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Lok Bahadur Thapa, and Joint-Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.

In addition to his meetings, Prime Minister Oli addressed the “Parliamentary Forum on Financing the Future: Aligning Finance with the Promise of the Paris Agreement” as the keynote speaker. In his address, he stressed the critical importance of phasing out fossil fuels to prevent catastrophic climatic disasters that are becoming more frequent and severe. He urged for increased investment in green and renewable energy technologies, advocating for a just transition to renewable energy and better access to climate funds for vulnerable countries.

Meanwhile, the United Nations High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries, and Small Island Developing States, Undersecretary-General Rabab Fatima, also paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Oli. During their discussion, they exchanged views on the Nepal-UN partnership, the ongoing efforts to help Nepal graduate from the LDC category, and preparations for the upcoming Third International Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3).

Prime Minister Oli arrived in New York on Friday on a 10-day visit, marking his first foreign engagement since his reappointment as Prime Minister on July 15.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that our future should be secured by using the freedom ensured by the Constitution.

Extending his message of best wishes on the occasion of Constitution Day today through his social networking sites, the PM said that the people's elected Constituent Assembly (CA) promulgated the Constitution as per the choice of citizens for the form of governance after the decades-long struggle and sacrifices of hundreds of people. "The Constitution has made it powerful to all. It has protected the aspirations of all ideologies, communities, geographies, genders, and ethnic and religious groups," the PM said.

"The rights we are using now could be safeguarded only through their promotion," the PM said, urging the young generation not to forget the totalitarian regime faced by the people for long.

Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba and CPN (Maoist Center) Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal have reached Baluwatar to meet Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Thursday.

The three senior leaders held a meeting to discuss contemporary political issues and to consult for the meeting of the Constitutional Council.

The meeting of the Constitutional Council, which was called at 5 pm in Singha Durbar on Wednesday, was postponed.

The meeting of the Constitutional Council was summoned to discuss the new Chief Justice and recommendation of Election Commission commissioners among others, a source said.

There is a constitutional provision that the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Speaker of the National Assembly, the Chief Justice, the leaders of the main opposition party and the Deputy Speaker should be in the Constitutional Council.

Similarly, the Judicial Council on August 24 had sent the names of eight judges to the Council to recommend the new Chief Justice.

The Constitutional Council meeting was called to discuss the names.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli underscored doubling agricultural production and called for adopting modern and productive agriculture rising above subsistence farming.

PM Oli, also Chancellor of the Agriculture and Forestry University (AFU), said so while addressing the 13th annual general assembly of AFU from the official residence of the Prime Minister at Baluwatar today.

Insisting that we should remove the reliance on farming for livelihood, Oli viewed that agricultural production would be boosted with thorough study on what crops could be planted where and how the market could be expanded for those products.

For that, he emphasized collaboration among government, cooperatives and the private sector. The Head of the Government requested the AFU to produce skilled agriculture scientists, engineers as well as other human resources given the increasing need and demand of human resources in the agriculture-based country like Nepal.

Around 66 percent of Nepal's population is engaged in the agriculture sector and this sector contributes one-third of the nation's GDP, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

PM Oli in his address further asserted that modern systems and mass production find a market. We will suffer a trade deficit until we increase our production. The tendency of running an economy on the basis of exports and remittance should be bucked," he stressed.

Furthermore, he shared that the government was planning fruit cultivation in vacant land in the forest. In this way we could ensure agriculture contributes to the national economy and thereby increasing self-reliance on food production."

It has been nearly two months since CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli assumed office as prime minister for the fourth time. His first foreign visit will be to New York to attend the 79th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). While the UNGA is a routine gathering of world leaders, it provides opportunities for Prime Minister Oli to hold significant bilateral meetings on the sidelines, provided the Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes a proactive approach.

Traditionally, Nepal’s prime ministers have commenced their foreign visits with a trip to India, but there are precedents of attending multilateral meetings first. This time, however, Prime Minister Oli has not yet received an invitation from India to visit New Delhi, which deviates from past practices where Nepali prime ministers were invited soon after, or even before, assuming office. Instead, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba has repeatedly stated that preparations for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Nepal are underway. Minister Deuba has already handed over the formal invitation from Prime Minister Oli to Modi.

Unlike his previous tenures, Prime Minister Oli has been relatively quiet about his foreign policy priorities, especially concerning India. Over the last decade, he has been vocal about various unresolved issues with India, and his relations with New Delhi have been strained, particularly after the 2015 blockade. As a result, foreign policy observers are keenly watching how Prime Minister Oli will engage with India this time. There were speculations that New Delhi was not eager to see Oli return as prime minister. However, a noticeable change is that Oli has been less confrontational on contentious issues with India, addressing them more subtly than in the past.

One such issue is the report prepared by the Eminent Persons’ Group (EPG), which Prime Minister Oli has been raising in a more measured tone. The submission of the EPG report appears to be a priority for him in discussions with India. During his official visit to India last year, former prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal chose not to raise the EPG issue, citing concerns that it could disrupt the improving bilateral relationship. Likewise, when Foreign Minister Deuba visited New Delhi recently and met with Indian Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Prime Minister Modi, the EPG report was not discussed. The EPG was formed in 2016 and completed its work in 2018, with an understanding that the report would be submitted to both prime ministers. However, India has reportedly conveyed through various channels that the EPG matter is closed.

Despite this, Prime Minister Oli continues to publicly highlight the issue. Recently, while unveiling a book by former minister Kamal Thapa, he reiterated that India should accept the EPG report. Similarly, at the launch of another book by Surya Nath Upadhyay, Oli repeated his stance, saying, “We have not had the opportunity to receive and submit the EPG report. There was no delay on Nepal’s side. Perhaps India will find an appropriate time to receive the report.” His repeated statements suggest that the EPG report is a major focus for him in his dealings with India.

The EPG was established by the Oli-led government in 2016, following a four-month-long Indian blockade, with four members from each country. The expert panel was tasked with offering insights on bilateral issues, including revising the 1950 Peace and Friendship Treaty. While other major parties like the Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), and Madhes-based parties have distanced themselves from the EPG issue, the UML continues to push it. Senior UML leader Rajan Bhattarai has also spoken publicly on the matter. In official discussions, representatives from the NC and Maoists tend not to raise the issue, while Madhes-based parties have rejected the report, arguing that it was drafted without their representation. It remains unclear how India will respond if Oli brings up the EPG report in official talks.

On the issue of the border dispute concerning Kalapani, Lipulekh and Limpiyadhura, Oli has been less vocal this time, although he mentioned it in Parliament. In 2020, under Oli’s leadership, Nepal issued a new political map that included these territories. In recent years, both countries have agreed to resolve the matter through diplomatic channels without politicizing it.

Oli has suggested that the issue could be settled through open and candid discussions at the highest political levels, emphasizing the importance of direct dialogue between the two countries. In recent years, top-level talks between Nepal and India have increasingly focused on economic development and partnership. The growing cooperation in power trade is often highlighted as a significant achievement in the bilateral relationship.

This week, two major political parties—Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN-UML—made significant decisions that could shape Nepali politics for years, particularly if they maintain these positions until the 2027 national elections. The NC has decided to reorganize its party structure to strengthen its ability to contest the 2027 elections independently, signaling a move away from pre-election alliances, particularly with the CPN (Maoist Center).

However, NC’s decision is somewhat unclear, as its leadership is under pressure to resist any pre-election alliances. The UML, currently the ruling party and a key competitor of NC, has made a similar decision. The UML is working on a strategy to boost its strength ahead of the 2027 elections, aiming to emerge as the largest political party. Despite leading the government, the party’s focus seems squarely on the upcoming elections.

These decisions are troubling for the CPN (Maoist Center), the third-largest party, which relies heavily on coalition politics to maintain its status. Maoist Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal has expressed concern, suggesting that there are efforts to push Nepal toward a two-party system. Meanwhile, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), which made a strong showing in the 2022 elections, may welcome the NC and UML’s decisions. Without alliances among the major parties, the RSP could increase its chances of electoral success.

The durability of this shift will depend on the stability of the current coalition. Should the Maoist Center once again play the role of kingmaker, its condition for supporting NC or UML would likely be the formation of an electoral alliance. This would apply not only in national elections but also in other political contexts, as Dahal favors pre-election alliances.

It’s also possible that NC might still seek an alliance with the Maoist Center to counter UML’s organizational strength at the grassroots level. NC’s internal struggles over this decision are evident, with leaders like Shekhar Koirala and Gagan Thapa optimistic about their chances of winning solo, despite the party’s general weakening at the local level. The upcoming NC general convention in 2026, just before the elections, could lead to a reversal of the current stance depending on the leadership at that time.

In another story this week, there were murmurs suggesting cracks in the UML-NC coalition. However, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba has downplayed such concerns, stating that NC and UML share similar positions on key national issues, and the coalition remains stable.

Also this week, RSP Chairperson Rabi Lamichhane was grilled by Pokhara police over his alleged involvement in the misappropriation of cooperative funds. There are reports that Pokhara police are preparing to file a case against him. Meanwhile, Surya Thapa, a member of the parliamentary probe committee on cooperatives, revealed this week that Gorkha Media, with which Lamichhane was associated, had indeed taken money from cooperatives. Following these incidents, Lamichhane, previously a high-ranking media figure and former Home Minister, met with Prime Minister Dahal and NC President Deuba, possibly seeking their support to avoid legal action.

Tensions between Prime Minister Oli and Maoist Chairperson Dahal intensified this week. While Oli continues to accuse Dahal of fostering anarchy, Dahal has warned of a potential people’s uprising to unseat the government, drawing parallels to recent events in Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

In other developments this week, the parliamentary hearing on the proposed ambassadors to 18 countries has sparked criticism, with many on social media mocking the ambitious and unrealistic promises made by the candidates.

On a more positive note, the transitional justice process has received a boost with the passage of key bills, supported by 10 major countries, including China—a rare instance of China publicly endorsing Nepal’s transitional justice efforts. Western nations and China appear to be aligned on this issue, while India, which raised concerns about this process in 2015, remains silent. Conflict victims have expressed mixed feelings, supporting the bill but with some reservations. A writ has been filed in the Supreme Court to determine whether the new legislation meets the criteria set by the court’s historic verdict. The government is expected to begin appointments to transitional justice bodies soon.

In the Parliamentary Committee on International Relations and Tourism, Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba faced numerous questions related to relations with India and China this week. She revealed that India has not extended an official invitation to Prime Minister Oli, although there may be an opportunity for him to meet Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the postponed BIMSTEC summit. 

Prime Minister Oli is scheduled to travel to New York in the third week of this month to attend the UN General Assembly. There is speculation about whether Oli will visit China before India if he receives an invitation from Beijing. Foreign Minister Deuba also revealed that the Indian side has already begun preparations for Modi’s visit to Nepal.

Finally, provincial governments are still incomplete as the process of appointing ministers continues, which is hindering their ability to function effectively.

That’s all for this week. Have a great weekend!

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has asserted that the national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' would be fulfilled by embracing the fundamental rights enshrined in the Constitution and the national and international commitments on human rights. 

Inaugurating the three-day international conference of human rights institutions of Asia and Pacific region on gender inclusiveness organized by the National Human Rights Commission today, PM Oli pointed out that the Constitution of Nepal has enshrined many issues of fundamental rights and the government is committed to abide by that in letter and spirit.

He made it clear that the caste system has been abolished through law. Stating that the Parliament had guaranteed at least 33 percent women participation in all the bodies of the three tiers of the State before the drafting of the Constitution, the PM described it as an important achievement. 

Prime Minister Oli also presented the instance in which the nation had got the first woman President, the Chief Justice, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chief Secretary, adding that necessary facilitation is done in increasing the women participation in all the State bodies.

He viewed that 20 percent of the citizens in Nepal are still under the absolute poverty line and it would not be possible to empower all the citizens unless fulfilling the poverty alleviation goal. 

"We will fully implement the letter and spirit of the fundamental rights mentioned in the constitution. We are committed to the execution of international commitments and agreements. We will abolish poverty from Nepal. We will fulfill the goal of Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali," PM Oli reiterated.

He shared on the occasion that the government and the Human Rights Commission were working in tandem for achieving the common goal of social justice and equality, as the people could not be made happy until the country is made prosperous.

"Only prosperity does not work for the country's development. The people should be able to experience a dignified life along with peace, safety and rights. The government is working for that," Prime Minister Oli said.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli spoke of the need to establish and expand many industries with minimal capital amount to enhance domestic production.

Addressing the Start-Up Nation 2030 conference here today, PM Oli viewed that youth and women, with innovative and creative thinking, could get employment opportunities at home instead of seeking greener pastures.

Oli encouraged expansion of entrepreneurship among youths to displace imports, reduce poverty, bolster national confidence and to achieve Sustainable Development Goals.

He argued that the banks and financial institutions should provide loans to such enterprises on the basis of the project rather than keeping enterprises as the mortgage.

Stating that some 'fraudulent elements' were trying to defame cooperatives, he assured that the government will advance cooperatives in a healthy manner.

Furthermore, the Head of the Government insisted that we should enhance entrepreneurship based on technology, skills and capital so that desired results are achieved in domestic production.

"Any startup invested by the government should not fail. It should be taken forward as a campaign," the PM observed, pledging utmost facilitation to the private sector on the part of the government.

"We have not come to power and formed the government for the sake of it. Not for nothing I have assumed the role of Prime Minister at this age. I am entrusted with this responsibility to deliver something substantial," said the 73-year-old PM.

The two-day event is a collaborative effort of the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies and Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) among other organizations.

Present in today's conference were Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Damodar Bhandari, Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Sharat Singh Bhandari and FNCCI's President Chandra Prasad Dhakal among others.

The Conference is a part of the campaign to make Nepal a startup-friendly nation in South-Asia by 2030, paving a way for the establishment of 10,000 startups and 100,000 jobs by the end of this period.

British Ambassador to Nepal, Rob Fenn, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar on Tuesday.

On the occasion, they discussed matters of mutual relations and interest between the two countries, according to the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers.

PM Oli said that the government has kept development, increased participation of youths in policy-making and meeting the sustainable development goals in priority while strengthening Nepal's federalism and democracy.

The Prime Minister asserted that the government is working to fulfill the national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali'. He added that the government is committed to fulfill the expectation of the people towards it, as the government is formed in collaboration of two large parties.

The British Ambassador expressed happiness for finalizing the legal topics related to transitional justice based on political agreement. He assured of continued assistance of the UK government in Nepal's development, good governance and federalism strengthening, among others.

He also expressed commitment to assist the Nepali traders in exporting their goods to the UK.

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who is currently on a two-day official visit to Nepal, paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar on Sunday.

During the meeting, they discussed strengthening bilateral and friendly relations between Nepal and India.

Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal and high-level officials also attended the meeting.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has directed the bodies concerned to make arrangements for providing easy and smooth treatment services at all government hospitals.

At a discussion about problems of health sectors, solutions and improvements to be done immediately held at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers on Thursday night, Prime Minister Oli urged the concerned authority to make arrangements of treatment for patients in an easy manner where the patients should not stay on a long queue.

He requested to depute doctors and health workers even after providing facilities when needed, adding the trend of asking patients to visit private clinics without conducting check-up during office hours at government hospitals should be ended.

The Prime Minister asked the bodies concerned to make health insurance practical and enforceable.

Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel, Minister for Health and Population Pradeep Poudel, acting Chief Secretary and high-ranking officials of health ministry including health secretary were present on the occasion. 

Ambassador of the European Union to Nepal Veronique Lorenzo paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli at latter's office in Singha Durbar today.

On the occasion, PM Oli appreciated the European Union's cooperation with Nepal in its economic and social development, and informed Ambassador Lorenzo that the topic related to transitional justice, the remaining work of the peace process, is to be finalized on the basis of political agreement.

He stated that the bill designed to amend the Commission on Investigation of Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Act-2071 BS is in the process of moving ahead, keeping the spirit of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA), the Supreme Court's order, the international practices and the survivors' issues at the center.

Recalling that the establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and the European Union entering the 50th year, Prime Minister Oli said that the support of development partners was anticipated as Nepal prepares to graduate to the developing country status by 2026 and to a middle-income country by 2030.

He reiterated that Nepal works actively towards poverty alleviation and economic development while remaining fully committed to guaranteeing democracy and human rights.

Ambassador Lorenzo wished that the government's priorities and objectives reach success. She also wished Prime Minister Oli for a successful term in office.

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said an agreement on the bill regarding transitional justice is a milestone for Nepal's peace process.

Receiving a report of the agreement reached at the task force for finalizing the transitional justice in accordance with the Comprehensive Peace Accord at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today, the Prime Minister said with the availability of the document, there shall be no confusions to provide a legal ground to conclude the remaining tasks of the peace process.

He expressed his commitment that the transitional justice-related bill will be unanimously endorsed by the ongoing session of the Parliament.

"We experienced a painful past. The nation went through a conflict. The country suffered significant damage. However, there have been positive changes, but again we are warranted to conclude the peace process. With incorporating all the dimensions of conflict-era violence into the peace process, there is no need to leave behind their vestiges," the Prime Minister said.

According to him, this agreement considers the verdicts from the respected Supreme Court, international norms and values and the survivors-friendly approach. This has proven to be a milestone in the peace process. The bill aims to prevent such conflict from reoccurring.  Once the bill is passed by parliament, we will proceed ahead with forming commissions on the basis of mutual consultation and the consensus he added.

"Although there were various practices in the past, at the time when democracy was established, there was no need for violence and lawlessness," PM Oli clarified.

He said that the incumbent government upheld the value that democracy should be considered a way of life and thus he made it clear that he would move forward for the protection and implementation of the federal democratic republic system.

Nepali Congress (NC) President Sher Bahadur Deuba lauded that the task force had set a unique example to the world that Nepalis would resolve their disputes on their own. He extended best wishes for the implementation of the consensus forged by the task force.

Similarly, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal dubbed the task force's report as the ''good work'' post the formation of a new government.

He wished that the report be finalized through the legitimate process of the parliament thereby sending the message of peace, stability and development among the Nepali people.

The political task force, formed in connection with the bill to amend the Commission on Investigation of Disappeared Persons, Truth and Reconciliation Act-2071 BS, handed over their report to the top leaders of major three political parties today.

The report was presented to Prime Minister and CPN-UML Chairperson KP Sharma Oli, NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chairperson Pushpa Kamal Dahal at the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers at Singha Durbar.

The task force consisted of Minister for Home Affairs and NC leader Ramesh Lekhak, CPN-UML's Chief Whip Mahesh Bartaula and CPN (Maoist Center)'s Janardan Sharma.

The report is the gist of the several discussions held by the task force on the major concerns and agendas of the Bill related to transitional justice. The bill is under consideration in the parliamentary committee for Law, Justice and Human Rights.

Consensus has been forged in a victim-friendly approach on the matters concerning reconciliation, compensation to those mutilated and punishment for the perpetrator during armed conflict, Minister Lekhak said.