Foreign policy provides the government with the basic guidelines to manage its external affairs by mobilizing its diplomatic apparatus abroad. All diplomatic machineries, representatives and other national representatives are primarily guided by this policy instrument in discharging their duties outside the domestic jurisdiction. It also plays a crucial role in enhancing national dignity, projecting national sovereignty, independent identity as well as promoting and enhancing national economic interest in the comity of nations. [break]
Nepal has enshrined specific foreign policy provisions in the “Directives Principles and State Policy” of the Interim Constitution, 2007. Regarding the objectives, its states: “The State, in its international relations, shall be guided by the objective of enhancing the dignity of the nation in the international arena by maintaining the sovereignty, integrity and independence of the country.” It further states that the foreign policy of Nepal shall be guided by the principles of the UN Charter, Pancha Sheel, Non-Alignment, International Law and world peace. “The State shall pursue a policy of making continuous efforts to institutionalize peace in Nepal through international recognition by promoting cooperative and cordial relations in the economic, social and other spheres on the basis of equality with neighboring and all countries of the world.”
Nepal is now a self-declared Federal Democratic Republic and is in the process of historical state restructuring and power sharing through new democratic constitution. After the first CA’s historic failure to promulgate a new constitution, another round of CA election is going to be held on November 19. In this context, it is extremely important to chart out an innovative, pragmatic and workable foreign policy framework by assessing internal and external political and economic dynamics.
Ever since Nepal’s foreign engagement started in 1816 with the establishment of diplomatic relations with Great Britain, Foreign Service has been regarded as a bastion of the elites with close links to the power center. The same power center selected and appointed their near and dear ones the heads of missions abroad. Now the historic change has given an opportunity to make Nepal’s Foreign Service more inclusive and dynamic by offering new opportunities to peoples from different castes, creeds, ethnicities, genders, backward societies and regions. For this, the government has already introduced and implemented a positive discrimination recruitment approach. Diversity in representations, views and opinions in Nepal’s Foreign Services have had a positive synergetic effect in MoFA, besides contributing to revitalize this Service.
Despite historic changes in national political landscape, political parties, government and foreign policy experts do not seem to be sincere about revisiting Nepal’s foreign policy. Political instability and various outstanding problems have been hindrance in this effort. Nepal’s foreign policy and diplomatic dealings are primarily focused on defending national sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence; garnering foreign assistance to carry-out national development activities and developing and expanding national diplomatic relations. Promoting economic interest has not been a priority in its multiple bilateral, regional and multilateral engagements.
It is high time to set our long-term foreign policy priorities to benefit from the paradigm shift in national, regional and global environment. All political parties, government, academicians, diplomats and foreign policy experts should take the initiative to come up with a more pragmatic and future-oriented foreign policy framework along with clear guidelines and national priorities. Only then can the much-touted national sovereignty, people’s supremacy and independent identity can be ensured.
Nepal has so many bilateral, regional and multilateral issues along with its own problems such as constitution writing, power sharing, state-restructuring, political mainstreaming of various armed outfits, improving human rights situation, addressing people’s increased aspirations, bringing change in Nepal’s socio-economic condition and finally creating peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and just Nepal. In this situation, a new pro-active, broad-based and long-term foreign policy which offers a clear direction to its machineries abroad to promote national socio-economic and political interest is of paramount importance.
Nepal is an active member of the UN and its specialized sister agencies, NAM, SAARC, BIMSTEC, WTO, IMF, WB, ADM and other international institutions. The role played by the head of government, ministers, diplomats and other national representatives in international forums would have significant implication on nation’s dignity, national interests and international assistance for socio-economic development. The high-level visits of national dignitaries to our immediate neighbors and other friendly countries as well as regional and multilateral forums have been generally limited to discussing current political situation, getting support for government’s legitimacy, garnering support for holding elections and asking assistance for end of the peace process. National economic agendas have not featured adequately despite the country continuously suffering from sky-high trade deficit, slow economic growth, growing unemployment, dehumanizing poverty, increasing burden of foreign debt-servicing, protracted load-shading and fuel and food crisis. Nepal’s abundant national resources such as hydropower, tourism, agriculture, bio-diversity and herbs have been underutilized due to lack of adequate capital investment, management skills and know-how. Policy ambiguity, unstable government and lack of clarity on foreign policy priorities have put national representatives abroad in a dilemma.
In this light, the government should give top priority to devising an innovative, proactive and pragmatic foreign policy framework along with clear guidelines and specific national priorities by forging national consensus among political parties, policymakers, bureaucrats, foreign policy experts, intellectuals and civil society. Defending, preserving and promoting national sovereignty, territorial integrity and independent identity and national dignity by adhering to the UN Charter, the principles of Pancha Sheel, non-alignment and international law, and equally importantly prioritizing economic diplomacy should be a top priority of Nepal’s foreign policy. Second priority should be strengthening and promoting cordial relations, particularly with immediate neighbors and with all peace loving countries based on international law, the UN Charter, Pancha Sheel, non-alignment and mutuality of interests. Lastly, the government should establish well-equipped diplomatic missions along with competent diplomatic head of mission with professionalism, sound judgment, academic qualification, sound negotiation and communication skills, and loyalty to the people and nation. This will certainly contribute to strengthen, revamp and revitalize national diplomacy and serve national interest.
The author is affiliated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
rebantakc@yahoo.com
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