KATHMANDU, May 5: Newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav on Thursday said that the government would not allow Maoist cadres to repeat activities that are against diplomatic norms.
Addressing an interaction organized by Reporters´ Club in the capital, Minister Yadav said there had been sporadic incidents in the past involving Maoist cadres who greeted the Indian ambassador to Nepal with black flags and sloganeering. “These types of activities, which may harm our relations, should not be repeated,” he said. The Maoists are a major coalition partner of the current Jhalanath Khanal government.[break]
Yadav said that all problems between India and Nepal can be resolved through diplomatic channels. “The problems cannot be resolved through any means except diplomatic channels. Everyone should understand this fact,” he said.
Yadav said though Nepal enjoys good relations with both India and China she has a multi-dimensional relations with India. He argued that Nepal should further strengthen the relationship with India.
The minister expressed commitment that Nepal would not allow any activities on her soil that are detrimental to the interests of neighbors. He added that stability and prosperity in the country can be achieved only if it is able to take its neighbors and the international community into confidence.
He said that the country currently faces three major tasks, namely promulgation of a democratic constitution through the Constituent Assembly, conclusion of the ongoing peace process, and ensuring justice and equality for marginalized communities. He argued that the Maoists must agree to expedite the peace process without making any excuses as in the past and that all the parties should agree to bring out a draft constitution by May 28, the deadline for promulgating the new constitution.
On the occasion, Yadav also said they are holding discussions to decentralize the distribution of machine readable passports (MRPs). He said the foreign ministry is mulling an increase in the number of counters to reduce the time it takes for acquiring MRPs, and opening branch offices of the foreign ministry in various parts of the country.