Press Release
- Dr. Prakash Sharan Mahat, Minister for Foreign Affairs and the leader of Nepali delegation to the 71th session of the United Nations General Assembly, attended the General Debate of the 71th session of the UNGA, that began here yesterday. The Hon. Minister is scheduled to address the session on 24 September 2016.
- On the sidelines of the UNGA, Nepal and El Salvador, a central American republic, established diplomatic relations today. The Hon. Minister Dr. Mahat and His Excellency Mr. Hugo Roger Martinez Bonilla, Minister of Foreign Affairs of El Salvador signed a Joint communiqué to this effect at a special ceremony held at the United Nation Headquarters. On the occasion, the two ministers expressed their confidence that the signing of the communiqué would deepen and widen the relations between the two countries in areas of mutual interest, and would also strengthen mutual cooperation at the United Nations and other multilateral forums to promote international peace and development. The number of countries with which Nepal has established diplomatic relations has now reached 144.
- The Hon. Minister held separate bilateral meetings with his counterparts of Mongolia and Serbia. During the meeting with H.E. Mr. Tsend Munkh-Orgil, Foreign Minister of Mongolia, the two sides discussed ways and means to further strengthening the bilateral relations and cooperation on matters of mutual interest. The Minister of Mongolia briefed about the status of the ratification of the Statute of the International Think Tank for Landlocked Developing Countries, and asked Nepal to accede to the Statute. The Hon. Minister responded to the request positively. Similarly, during the meeting with Mr. Ivica Decic, the first Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Serbia, the two sides exchanged views on bilateral and multilateral interests including the Non-aligned movement.
- Also on the sidelines, the Informal Meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers was held in New York today with participation of all eight member states of SAARC and Hon. Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr. Mahat, as the current Chair of the SAARC Council of Ministers, presided over the Meeting. The Meeting reviewed progress achieved on the implementation of the decisions of the 37th Meeting of the SAARC Council of Ministers and its preceding meetings held in Pokhara in March 2016. During the occasion, the head of delegation of Pakistan briefed about the ongoing preparations for hosting the 19th SAARC Summit scheduled to be held in Pakistan on 09 to 10 November 2016.
- The Hon. Minister attended a reception hosted by the United Nations Office of the High Representative for Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing Countries to mark its 15th anniversary of establishment. He also attended separate receptions organized by Japan, Singapore and Kuwait, and met with his counterparts during the occasions.
- Yesterday evening, the Hon. Dr. Mahat attended a reception hosted in honour of visiting heads of delegations by His Excellency Barack Obama, the President of the United States of America. During the occasion, he had a brief exchange of views with President Obama and also talked with US Secretary of State His Excellency Mr. John Kerry on matters of mutual interests.
Permanent Mission of Nepal to the United Nations
New York
21 September 2016
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With H.E. Barack Obama and Mrs. Obama