MoFA objects to EU delegates' meet with armed outfits

KATHMANDU, May 25: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has expressed serious objection to the proposed meeting between delegates of the European Parliament and representatives of ethnic based armed outfits Limbuwan and Khambuwan.



"These groups are neither represented in the Constituent Assembly nor are political and civil organizations and are illegal groups," the ministry said in a statement on Tuesday, objecting the meeting scheduled for May 28. [break]



The ministry´s statement came after it came to know that the delegation currently on a week-long Nepal visit, is meeting the armed groups on May 28.



"…These types of meetings are against established diplomatic norms and international practices and are likely to have serious repercussions on excellent bilateral relations between Nepal and the European Union," the ministry said in the statement, asking the EU parliamentarians to refrain from meeting the outfits fighting for a Limbuwan state in the eastern hills.



A 10-member delegation from the European Parliament for Relations with South Asia led by Jean LAMBERT is currently in Nepal since Sunday for the 8th European Parliament/Nepal Inter-Parliamentary meeting. The EU Parliament Delegation for Relations with South Asia is returning on May 29. This is the second time the delegation has visited Nepal since 2008.







According to a statement from the European Union Delegation in Kathmandu, the delegation´s main objective is to meet Chairman of the Constituent Assembly Subas Nembang and discuss with members of the Constituent Assembly issues of common interest.



EU delegation rectifies visit plan



Meanwhile, the European Parliament in a “rectification” notice sent to myrepublica.com on Tuesday has said “Contrary to what has appeared in certain newspapers, the MEPs (members of European Parliament) are not holding meetings outside Kathmandu, nor interacting with any political party that is not represented in the Constituent Assembly”.



However, the itinerary for the European Parliament delegation´s visit received from Nepalese mission in Brussels, where the EU is headquartered, mentions that the delegation planned to meet representatives of Limbuwan and Khambuwan outfits in eastern Nepal half-an-hour each in the morning of May 28.

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