Swiss Foreign Minister Joseph Deiss is coming to South Asia on a three-state visit to Nepal, Bhutan and India. Swiss sources say the planned visit confirms a continuation of aid for Nepal in the coming year. Switzerland has listed Nepal as a priority country, meaning Nepal is eligible to get just over $18.5 million a year, which would be an increase of around $6 million on what Nepal presently gets.

Deiss will talk firmly about some things, though?he is said to want the Bhutanese refugee issue resolved soon, and also be happy to help speed up negotiations if both Nepal and Bhutan agree to seek third party help. And, if the Nepali government agrees, Deiss is said to be planning a visit to the refugee camps when he is here in November.