Katmandu braces for more high profile visits.

Restoration of democracy at home wins admiration, visits and support abroad.

John Narayan Parajuli
Washington DC, April 29, 2006
With Nepal’s parliament restored, foreign diplomats have resumed their pending visits to Nepal to normalize the relationship that came under sever strain during King Gyanendra’s direct rule. Besides political support, these visits are likely to bring much needed economic aid to help Nepal cushion the effects of the insurgency.

U.S. assistant secretary for south and central Asia Richard Boucher is arriving in Katmandu on May 2 to assess the situation following King’s climb-down.

“We would like to have a normal relationship with Nepal across the board,” said Boucher, during a roundtable discussion with journalists before leaving Washington, “including a normal relationship with the army.”
The U.S. could resume military supplies if the new government requests.

“We'll look at all those things, and we'll' look at all those things based on what a democratic, what a civilian government, what a new Prime Minister is looking for from the United States,” he said.

Boucher will asses the needs of the Nepal’s new government and is likely to announce a package soon, according to sources.

Even the Norwegians are gearing up to extend their support to the new government and the process of democratization in Nepal. Erik Solheim, Norway’s Minister for International Development is arriving in Katmandu on May 2 for a four-day visit. Solheim’s visit is expected to facilitate the talks between the government and the Maoists.

“Nepal is facing major political, economic and social challenges. Norway wants to help resolve these [issues] in consultation with the new government, the political parties and civil society,” Solheim said in a statement. “We hope these efforts will also help to pave the way for negotiations with the Maoists and resolution of the armed conflict.”

Solheim is a member of the Socialist Left party and a leader of Norway's peace mediation team between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers that brokered the 2002 truce. Will Norway be offering a mediatory role?

“Right now there is no plan for mediation between the government and the Maoists,” said May Elin Stener, an aide to Solheim and the Assistant Director General at Norway’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, talking to this scribe over phone from Oslo.


During his visit, Minister Solheim will hold talks with the Prime Minister, the Foreign Minister, and leaders and other representatives of several political parties. The programme will also include a visit to a Norwegian-supported development project. Solheim’s aides say that Norway’s assistance could be significantly increased to help Nepal mitigate the crippling effects of the insurgency.

Meanwhile, On Thursday, U.S. senate passed a resolution expressing support for Nepal’s restored parliament and urged the government to help Nepal in the process of democratization.

According a Congressional aide, the resolution was introduced by Republican senator Richard Lugar, who is also the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, and cosponsored by Senators Joseph Biden (D-Delaware), Norm Coleman (R-Minnesota), Lincoln Chafee (R-Rhode Island), Dianne Feinstein (D-California), John Kerry (D-MA), Patrick Leahy (D-Vermont), and John Sununu (R-New Hampshire).
The resolution calls on the U.S. to work closely with India, China, the United Kingdom, the European Union, and the United Nations to ensure a common and coherent international approach that helps bring about an immediate, peaceful transition to democracy and an end to the violent insurgency in Nepal.
In November last year, a group of senators and congressmen led by Congressman James Walsh (R-New York) had urged the Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice provide Nepal a complete package to deal with the crisis in Nepal.