In an exclusive interview with our Dhaka stringer, Amir Khasru, who is now in Katmandu, Nepal, the Nepalese Prime Minister, Surya Bahadur Thapa focussed on three main issues tri-lateral talks on the distribution of river water, road Links between Nepal and Bangladesh and the maoist insurgence in Nepal
Mr. Thapa said that Nepal supports the Bangladeshi stand for tripartite talks between India, Bangladesh and Nepal on the distribution of river water and his country would welcome any such efforts to resolve water dispute between Bangladesh & India. He, however, said that India and Bangladesh have to take initiatives for such tripartite talks.
As far as the road links between the land - locked Nepal and Bangladesh is concerned he said that such moves would depend on certain infra- structural improvements. Bangladesh government has informed the Nepalese side that such infra –structural developments would be completed by April this year. There is however about twenty miles of Indian territory buffering Bangladesh and Nepal.
On matters relating to the Maoist rebels, the Nepalese Prime Minister said that his government is open to discussions with the rebels and to this end the government has taken some political, social and economic measures. However, the Maoists seem to have withdrawn from any discussions. He said that Nepal’s present government has taken program focussed on security, development and ensuring good governance to people’s doorstep. When asked about the way problems are being resolved in Sri Lanka, the Nepalese PM ruled out the possibilities of any foreign mediation saying that the situation in Nepal is very different with two big neighbors on the north and the south of the country.