PM's indiscriminate meetings- Nepali Times

From The Nepali Press
PM's indiscriminate meetings
Lekhnath Pande in Nagarik, 24 June

FROM ISSUE #509 (02 JULY 2010 - 08 JULY 2010) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has been holding meetings with Asian ambassadors for hours in the last few days.

The prime minister's advisor for foreign affairs, Rajan Bhattarai, said that the prime minister exchanged updates on bilateral affairs, the latest political developments and his position to the ambassadors.

Meanwhile, diplomats have objected to the uncontrolled meetings of the prime minister with ambassadors. Former ambassador Rajeswor Acharya said that the prime minister was making a mockery of official protocol by granting random visits. "Nowhere in the world does the country's leader give updates on the political situation and his views to ambassadors," he said.

Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, who was an ambassador to India and the US for 14 years, said that even in a democracy the practice of pleasing foreigners, which started during the Rana regime, has continued.

According to diplomatic protocol, ambassadors should get the approval of the ministry of foreign affairs before meeting with the prime minister and other ministers.

1. RAJ
Little confused! What is the problem again?

So a leader decides that he owes the foreign ambassadors an update on the progress of his nation or state of affairs. It may just be that he wants to reassure them himself. So that was not done before. Critical times need critical measures. Not a time for a leaders and diplomats to follow Bureaucratic methods. 14 years is a lot of years to be wasting precious time following protocol. I do agree that the ministry of foreign affairs should be on the loop on this. But seriously, this is a new era and it is important for leaders to be available and responsible to alliances the country keeps.

Anyway, just saying - why does it have to be viewed as "pleasing foreigners"? Those "foreigners" are here due to alliances we want and have a huge impact on the way the world perceive us and treats us. Things have looked pretty bleak in Nepal for the last decade and a half. There are still lots of problems - and that's all "foreigners" may see. It may be time for someone to actually call up on these ambassadors to be more engaged (not saying they are not - just more) and without scripted protocols.

Time to shake old notions off people. This is how business runs these days...why not politics?

Posted on: 03 JULY 2010 | 9:25 AM NST

2. Bishnu
Makune is a nominated PM by Rakesh sood therefore he has to inform every things to him and he needs permission from Sood to go into the bed with his wife.
until and unless our leaders did not stop to go delhi to become PM they always have to inform the sood BHAIYA.

Posted on: 07 JULY 2010 | 4:22 PM NST