The Hindu : National : India will support Nepal’s transition to multiparty democracy: Pranab

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Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008
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India will support Nepal’s transition to multiparty democracy: Pranab

Prerana Marasini

— Photo: AP

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee talks to the media in Kathmandu, Nepal, on Monday.

KATHMANDU: External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee has said India will support Nepal in its transition to multiparty democracy.

Speaking to the Nepali media in Kathmandu, Mr. Mukherjee said: “India will continue to stand by the people of Nepal in their transition to multiparty democracy and to extend such support as they desire.”

He further said that Nepal-India relations had resulted in high level interactions and exchanges in the past few months.

“During my visit, I hope to take further the process of strengthening India-Nepal relations.”

Mr. Mukherjee, who is on a three-day visit to Nepal, will be meeting President Ram Baran Yadav; Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’; Constituent Assembly Chairman Subhash Nembang; Nepali Congress President Girija Prasad Koirala and CPN (UML) general secretary Jhalanath Khanal.

Apart from discussing the bilateral relations of Nepal and India, Mr.Mukherjee will also be visiting the Koshi region where Indian team is rebuilding the Koshi embankment. Reports say Mr. Mukherjee and Dr. Yadav will discuss the different treaties that Nepal and India signed in the past.

Also, the joint statement issued by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Nepal Prime Minister Prachanda in September will be reviewed at the meeting of the two foreign Ministers.

Mr. Mukherjee has come here on Nepal Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav’s invitation. Earlier, Mr. Yadav had told journalists here that the issue of open-borders would be discussed with his Indian counterpart. “Both sides (Nepal and India) have problems because of the open border,” he said.

Meanwhile, British Minister for International Development Mike Foster has also arrived in the capital for a four-day visit.

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