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Nepal-India Eminent Persons Group agrees to review Nepal-India treaties
The first meeting of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) comprising diplomats from both Nepal and India has agreed to review a gamut of bilateral issues including the treaties and agreements since the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.The first meeting of the Eminent Persons Group (EPG) comprising diplomats from both Nepal and India has agreed to review a gamut of bilateral issues including the treaties and agreements since the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship.
Emerging out of the meeting, Nepali EPG Coordinator and former Minister of Foreign Affairs Bheikh Bahadur Thapa commented, "All the bilateral issues and concerns raised between Nepal and India in different times entered the meeting. No issues have been left out".
But he declined to note as what bilateral issues were raised in the meeting.
The EPG was formed to take stock the overall aspects of Nepal-India relations and to recommend for further improvement in the bilateral relations. The meeting that kicked off in the capital on Monday concluded today.
Thapa further shared that the meeting concluded with a note to make comprehensive study of the bilateral matters from both sides and present them in the next meeting.
The meeting has also decided to hold the next EPG meeting in Indian capital city of New Delhi, after three months.
The EPG was mandated to study the bilateral treaties and agreements along with various sectors including trade and transportation, information technology and development and recommend for further improvements.
On a query, he replied, "We held an amicable discussion to advance Nepal-India bilateral relations in a further consolidated manner".
Nepal-India relations reviewed: Koshyari
At a press meet, Coordinator of the Eminent Persons Group, India, and former Chief Minister of Uttaranchal Province, India, Bhagat Singh Koshyari said that the Nepal-India relations was reviewed in the meeting. "The meeting of our Group will find out discontents between the two countries and will recommend both governments to resolve it."
Koshyari said that India and people of India have always wanted to see a prosperous and happy Nepal. He said, "Our Group has some limitations. We have no right to cross it. We will carry out work in line with course of action given to the Group."
Responding to a query about India not welcoming the new constitution of Nepal, Coordinator Koshyari said that he is a politician but the issue was out of group's jurisdiction.
The former Chief Minister responded by saying that India has always taken Nepal as a good neighbour and has always wanted political stability and progress in the country.
Thapa was Coordinator of the Group from Nepal including former Chief Commissioner of the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority Suryanath Upadhyay, former Law Minister Nilamber Acharya and lawmaker Dr Rajan Bhattarai.
Similarly, Jayanta Prasad, Mahendra P Lama and BS Upreti were in the Group led by Koshyari from India.
On the occasion, member of the EPG-India Mahendra P Lama said that the Group would revise the existing treaties and agreements between the two countries and added that a new dimension of the bilateral relations would be sought in line with the 21st century, which could be a new example in the world.
The term of the Group is for two years. RSS