Govt decides to not participate in SPP

Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Narayan Khadka has said that the Nepal government's decision of not participating in the State Partnership Program (SPP) proposed by the US Government has already been communicated to America.

Speaking in a meeting of the House of Representatives today, he said the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already implemented the decision of the Council of Ministers not to take ahead the SPP and informing about the same to the American government.

"The written document about the decision that Nepal is not taking ahead the SPP has been sent to the US Government through diplomatic channel on July 25," the Foreign Affairs Minister said.

He clarified on the occasion that it took some time to send letter on the government's decision regarding SPP since internal consultations were required to that end.

The government had, on June 20, decided not to participate in SPP and to inform the US government on the same. "It took some time as home work, internal dialogue and consultations were required between various bodies for collaboration with the friendly country in the coming days as well," he elaborated.

Minister Khadka informed the House that the US government has been informed through diplomatic channel about the decision related to SPP made by the Government of Nepal.

"The Government of Nepal's viewpoint is clear in this regard. It would be unnatural to express doubts over a decision made by the supreme body of the Executive, the Government of Nepal, a sovereign nation," he said.

The Minister expressed gratitude to the lawmakers raising voice on the delay in writing a letter to the US in connection to SPP.

Government committed to independent and balanced foreign policy

Minister for Foreign Affairs Khadka stated that the incumbent coalition government has been conducting a special domestic policy in line with the constitutional provisions, the Charter of the United Nations, the principles of non-alignment and Panchasheel and international law, and that the government was capable enough for the same.

"The coalition government is fully aware of an independent and balanced foreign policy and protection and promotion of national interest and welfare," he asserted.

Khadka informed that the government had taken forward its steps keeping in mind the national interest and reaffirmed the commitment of government to take forward independent and balanced foreign policy in future. He clarified, "The government of Nepal keeps greatest interest of the country at centre while receiving foreign aid or collaborating for any causes."

Stating that Nepal had been embracing the policy of non-aligned foreign policy, the Foreign Minister asserted that there would not be any question of a country committed towards such policy joining any military alliance.

He reminisced that Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had pledged in the parliament that his government would not allow any treaties, agreements and activities against the national interest and reiterated that the government was capable of exercising independent and balanced foreign policy keeping the national interest at the centre.

The government on June 20 had decided not to move forward on the SPP and to inform the USA government about it. Parliamentarians had raised questioned saying why the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not write to the USA regarding the government of Nepal's decision on the SPP.

Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota issued a ruling that the government should appraise the parliament about the SPP.

Dr Bhim Bahadur Rawal, Dr Shivamaya Tumbahangphe, Nawaraj Silwal, Gagan Kumar Thapa, Mahesh Basnet, Prem Suwal, Divyamani Rajbhandari, Ghanashyam Khatiwada, Dr Dila Sangraula, Binda Pandey among other parliamentarians demanded that the contents in the letter the government sent to the USA government on the SPP be read out.