Visiting Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari and PC Director Aron Willem reached an agreement to return the Peace Corps during their meeting in Washington on Thursday. [break]
“An agreement has been reached to return PC,” said Nepali Ambassador to the US Dr Shankar Sharma, “The US is sending an assessment team to Nepal soon.”
The PC program was suspended on September 13, 2004 in the aftermath of the Maoist´s attack on the American Center in Gyaneshwor, Kathmandu. Altogether 84 PC volunteers were working in the field of health education, nursing, information technology, business development, teaching English as a foreign language and environmental conservation before they were evacuated on a short notice following the attack.
The PC program in Nepal is one of the oldest as it began a year after then US President John F Kennedy established it in 1961.
Nepali Embassy in the US has been taking initiatives for the last one year to return PC. Even pressure programs are being organized by returned PCs in Washington for the last one year.
Visiting Deputy Prime Minister Adhikari presented an official letter on behalf of Nepal government, requesting PC´s return to Nepal to PC representative in Washington on Thursday.
“This is the first step [toward returning the PC program]. It has to be considered,” said Spokesperson at the US Embassy in Kathmandu Heather Steil when asked about the agreement.
Asked how long it would take for the concerned authorities to take a decision on the request, she added, “It is not sure when the decision will be taken.”
According to officials who were also present at meeting between Adhikari and Willem, the PC officials had told Nepali officials that the PC volunteers will start coming to Nepal soon after fulfilling necessary procedures.
Officials said the PC will be returned as per the terms and reference of an agreement signed between the two countries in 1962. Nepal had requested the US to send PC volunteers to teach English and Math in the rural areas. Even this time, Nepal has requested the US to send PC volunteers to do the same.
“PC has played a positive role in strengthening bilateral relations between Nepal and the US,” said Ambassador Sharma.
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