India-Nepal to set up mechanism to resolve border issues

Shirish B Pradhan

Kathmandu, Jun 20 (PTI) India and Nepal Saturday
agreed to set up a high-level bilateral mechanism to resolve
the border issues between the two neighbours.

The move to set up the bilateral mechanism was decided
after the visiting Indian Foreign Secretary Shivshanker Menon
had a meeting with the new Nepalese Prime Minister Madhav
Kumar Nepal during which they also reflected on the current
political situation in the country.

Menon, making his second visit to Nepal in the last
four months, also extended an invitation to the Prime Minister
to visit India, dates for which are being worked out.

By setting up a bilateral mechanism on border issues,
the two countries hope to take out the sting from a campaign
being run by the former ruling Maoists party, which has
alleged that India has encroached upon Nepalese territories in
Dang district.

After the 45 minute meeting with the Prime Minister,
Menon said they had discussed bilateral cooperation, including
border issues and the and current political situation in the
country.

Rajan Bhattarai, the Prime Minister's Foreign Affairs
Advisor told reporters that the Foreign Secretary had come to
extend formal invitation to Prime Minister Nepal for an visit
to New Delhi from Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He
said the date of the visit is still being worked out.

The meeting also discussed ways to expedite the
agreements and understandings reached between the two
countries during the recent past, particularly during visits
to India by former Prime Ministers Prachanda and Girija
Prasad Koirala, he said.

He said the talks were positive and all gamut of
Indo-Nepal relations were covered.

Ahead of Menon's visit, Foreign Minister Sujata
Koirala stressed that the new the CPN-UML led coalition
government wanted to strengthen bilateral relations and
underlined the key role of India in its landmark peace
process.

"We need India's cooperation and support to move the
peace process forward," the Foreign Minister told PTI.
"Nepal government wants to strengthen bilateral

relations with neighbouring countries, especially India," the
55-year-old daughter of former premier and Nepali Congress
patriarch Girija Prasad Koirala said.

On his arrival in capital on a two-day visit, Menon
said: "We have cordial relations with Nepal and I am here to
have bilateral talks with Nepalese officials".

"I am happy to be in Kathmandu for the second time,"
Menon told mediapersons.

Meanwhile, at least six persons were arrested while
they were trying to show black flag to Menon as he came out of
the airport this morning, the police said. Those arrested were
the members of the Revolutionary Left Wing (RLW), a Maoist
breakaway faction and the Unified Nepal National Front, both
lesser known anti-India groups. according to the police.

Menon is scheduled to meet President Ram Baran Yadav
and Nepali Congress president Koirala, Maoists supremo
Prachanda and CPN-UML chairman Jhalanath Khanal, according to
sources.

He will also hold bilateral talks with his Nepalese
counterpart Gyan Chandra Acharya tomorrow. Menon is scheduled
to visit the world famous Pashupatinath temple tomorrow before
he ends his official tour to Nepal. PTI