Krishna meets PM Nepal; India pledges assistance to Bagmati project, border security
16/01/2010
Friday, 15 January 2010 14:31
Nepalnews.com
Indian Minister for External Affairs S.M. Krishna, who arrived in Kathmandu Friday afternoon, met Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal at the latter's Baluwatar residence in the evening.
Prime Minister Madav Kumar Nepal shakes hands with visiting External...
Emerging from the hour-long meeting, Krishna said he had a broad discussion with the PM on matters of bilateral interest. Border security and new development projects in Nepal were also discussed during the meeting, he informed.
According to PM Nepal's foreign affairs advisor Rajan Bhattarai, talks also dwelled on timely implementation of the agreements reached between India and Nepal during the PM's trip to India.
During the meeting, the Indian side is said to have accepted Nepal's request to supply 30 MW electricity to lessen the power woes here.
Indian foreign secretary Nirupama Rao and Indian ambassador Rakesh Sood were also present during the meeting.
Earlier, the Indian External Affairs Minister met his Nepali counterpart, Deputy Prime Minister Sujata Koirala, at Dwarika's Hotel.
At that meeting, Krishna expressed India's readiness to renew the 1950 bilateral treaty at any time convenient for Nepal and provide assistance for the Bagmati project.
According to minister Koirala, the Indian side pledged help for Nepal's peace process and constitution writing.
Krishna, who is accompanied by Indian foreign secretary Rao and other senior South Block officials, is in Nepal visit on the invitation of his DPM Koirala.
He is scheduled to meet President Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, Constituent Assembly chairman Subash Chandra Nemwang and Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, among others.
Krishna is to meet chairman Dahal at a time when the former rebel party has intensified its rhetoric against India.
During his short stay, there will be discussion on various issues of bilateral importance including Indian assistance for construction of Nepal Police Academy building including maintaining postal roads and extension of the electricity transmission line, among others.
This is the first visit by a senior Indian minister since Nepal-led government
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