The Hindu : Front Page : India, Nepal to review friendship treaty

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Wednesday, Sep 17, 2008
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India, Nepal to review friendship treaty

Sandeep Dikshit

Nepal keen to look at treaty, we are ready to revise it: Menon

Official-level mechanisms to be reactivated for water management
Both Prime Ministers could issue joint statement on Wednesday

NEW DELHI: India and Nepal have agreed to take a fresh look at the 1950 Indo-Nepal Treaty of Peace and Friendship. They have also decided to reactivate official-level mechanisms to give a fresh impetus to bilateral ties in trade and commerce, water management and curbing crime and drug running along the border.

This visit by Nepal Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) is a “useful opportunity to look forward and we will now move very rapidly, probably next month, to hold talks at the level of Foreign, Home, Water Resources and Commerce Secretaries. Nepal is keen to look at the 1950 treaty and we have said we are ready to revise and update it,” Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon told journalists here on Tuesday.

“Times have changed. We have to upgrade and revise it to make our friendship stronger,” Nepal’s Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav said at a separate news conference, originally scheduled to be addressed by Mr. Prachanda. The two Prime Ministers could hold a joint news conference and issue a joint statement on Wednesday, he said.

Helping hand

As part of an immediate package to help Kathmandu, New Delhi will release Rs. 20 crore for Nepalese victims of the Kosi barrage breach and continue with supplies of petroleum products, wheat, rice and sugar before the festival season. Mr. Yadav appreciated India’s assistance.

He advocated a joint approach to tackle criminal activities and drug running on both sides of the border.

On management of river waters, Mr. Menon said India wanted to rationalise the existing mechanism and hasten the progress of hydel projects. Several large projects were at various stages of readiness and India expected progress at official-level talks on water resources which, he said, would be a new mechanism. The remaining instruments had become largely inactivated due to Nepal’s preoccupation with its internal affairs.

Both sides were unwilling to comment on which portions of the 1950 treaty they would revise. “India and Nepal have changed. It is necessary to look and update, build and improve what we have. I can’t predict today,” said Mr. Menon in response to questions.

Mr. Yadav also made similar observations. “Times have changed. We have to upgrade and revise it. We have to think of the changes with mutual understanding.”

Asked which portions of the treaty Nepal considered inimical to its interests, he said: “It will be discussed. Which part will be discussed was not discussed. But in principle both sides have accepted [to revise the Treaty].”

The Nepalese delegation spent the day in talks with Indian businesspersons, interacting with the entire Indian political firmament as well as intellectuals.

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