KATHMANDU, March 6: The telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov scheduled to be held next Thursday at the foreign minister level has been thrown into confusion.

The telephonic conversation, which was scheduled to discuss issues such as the return of the bodies of Nepalis who have joined the Russian army, and the return of the bodies of Nepalis who were killed in the Ukraine war, and compensation, have been thrown into confusion due to the change in the power alliance in Nepal.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) has said that homework is being done on this matter. Spokesperson for the Ministry, Joint Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai said that the Prime Minister's Office has been informed about this matter and preparations are being made for the talks as per the predetermined time.

“The time for the telephone conversation between our minister and his Russian counterpart has been decided. Homework is being done after discussing this matter with the Prime Minister's Office, said Spokesperson Rai.

After long efforts by the MoFA and the Nepali Embassy in Moscow, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei is scheduled to hold a telephone conversation with his Nepali counterpart on March 7 (tomorrow). Foreign Minister NP Saud, who expressed his desire to go to Russia himself to discuss this matter, had been trying to hold a dialogue with his counterpart Lavrov for a long time.

For that, Saud had advanced the process through the Russian Embassy in Nepal and the Nepali Embassy in Moscow. However, Russia was not ready to welcome him and at the last moment it was ready for telephone talks.

After the time was fixed for the telephone conversation, the talks fell into confusion after Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal dismissed the Foreign Minister due to a change in the alliance.

A few days ago, a time was fixed for bilateral telephone talks on issues such as the safe return of Nepalis in the Russian army, treatment of the injured, relief to the family members of those who have lost their lives, and stopping the recruitment of Nepalis into the Russian Army.

Nepal has been requesting its citizens not to join the Russian army, asking those who have already joined to return home, send the dead bodies to Nepal and provide details of those who have been mutilated as well as provide them with compensation. But till now, Nepal is not able to communicate these concerns directly to Russia.

During his visit to Uganda, Foreign Minister Saud requested Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin on this matter and also called the Russian Ambassador in Nepal and requested him.

According to the information sent by the Russian Ministry of Defense to the Government of Nepal, 12 Nepali people working in the Russian army have died so far. Apart from that, Nepal has no information about the remaining number of Nepalis working in the Russian Army and their situation.

At the consular department under the MoFA, more than 200 families have submitted requests for rescue.

In addition, only a short time ago, Russia was ready to provide compensation to the families of Nepalis who were killed in the war with Ukraine through the embassy. While they were saying that the family members of the deceased can get compensation only after reaching Russia, after the initiative of the MoFA, Russia was ready to provide compensation through the embassy.

 
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