Gautam for president - Nepali Times

From The Nepali Press
Gautam for president
Mahesh Acharya in Kantipur, 30 September

FROM ISSUE #522 (01 OCT 2010 - 07 OCT 2010) | TABLE OF CONTENTS

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NEW YORK: Nepal has increased its lobbying for Kul Chandra Gautam's candidacy for the president of UN General Assembly next year. Gautam is against the Qatari ambassador to the UN who has himself launched a spirited campaign for the post. Nepal is promoting Gautam through formal and informal gatherings and meetings. Those attending the current GA session have been discussing the merits of Gautam's candidacy at the side-line programs.

Home Minister Bhim Rawal forwarded Gautam's name for the prestigious post at the 65th UN General Assembly. Using this opportunity to meet the head of states and the officials of the member countries, Nepal has been requesting them to support Gautam for the post. Caretaker Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal has also been meeting the ambassadors of different countries in Kathmandu to promote Gautam.

Gautam's friend and East Timor's President Jos� Ramos-Horta endorsed Nepal's candidacy at a dinner reception organised by him in New York this week and requested the nations for support. He introduced Gautam as the "Asian candidate".

Minister Rawal confirmed that Iran, Yemen, Solomon Islands, Nauru and other countries have agreed to support Gautam's candidacy during the G-77 and LDC meetings.

Since the tradition is to elect the president unanimously, the Asian region representing 53 countries will have to nominate Nepal or Qatar by June 2011.

1. kabulekanchho

I do not understand why Nepal should go for this. Looking at Nepal's pathetic political scene, I doubt that anyone would be encouraged to vote for a diplomat from Nepal. Lobbying by the Government of Nepal for his election is an example of the fact that nobody in Kathmandu these days seems to be serious about the issues the country is facing and its priorities. If Gautam is such a great diplomat (I am not doubting about it), why not use his skill to end current deadlocks and impasse. Every now and then, we seem to get stuck in "trivialest" of the trivial issues and never find our way out. Can Gautam lend his UN trained hand here first before he aims to sort out wider world's problem?

Posted on: 04 OCT 2010 | 11:54 AM NST

2. Budabaaje
Fully agree with kabulekanchho. I'd love to see a Nepali in such a position, but he needs to really deserve it. What has Gautam done to take up such a position? Surely, being the first Nepali to become a senior diplomat in the UN is not sufficient criteria to become a world leader! This just goes to show just how out-of-touch Nepali politicians are with the real world. It's like nominating Girija for Nobel Prize!!

Posted on: 06 OCT 2010 | 2:20 AM NST