E-Kantipur

Narayan Kaji Shrestha is the new foreign minister and deputy prime minister in Baburam Bhattarai’s cabinet. Shrestha has a master’s in public administration. He began his political career as a Nepali Congress activist before joining the left movement. The 51-years-old bachelor from Gorkha, who played an active role in the birth of the 12-point agreement that created the alliance between parliamentary party and the Maoists to overthrow the monarchy,

spoke with Kamal Dev Bhattarai and Gyanu Adhikari about the Prime Minister’s trip to New York and Nepal’s foreign policy challenges.

What’s the government’s message to the international community at the UN?

The UN is the only organisation where all member states have equal status and equal voice.  We will empahsise this is more effective.  We’ll talk about the reality and our efforts and convictions to successfully complete the peace process and constitution.

What issues will you raise?

We’ll draw attention to achieving the MDGs. Also, we cannot think of a prosperous and peaceful world without the development of Least Developed Countries. Another issue is Climate change, which has made us vulnerable.

Are there side-meetings on the itinerary besides the UN forums?

There’ll be a side-meeting with the General Secretary of the UN. I’ll also meet the foreign ministers of Saarc countries.  It’s almost certain that I’ll meet the Chinese foreign minister.

Is the Prime Minister holding bilateral meetings with other heads of states?

The dates are not fixed yet but we’re making our efforts.

Will he be meeting the Indian PM?

Certainly. 

What about the Chinese PM?

As far as we know, the Chinese PM won’t be attending. The foreign minister there will lead the delegation and will make a courtesy call to our PM. I will also hold bilateral talks with him.

Besides New York, what other trips are on the PM’s calendar?   

He has already accepted the invitation to visit India, which will take place in the near future. Similarly, he has also been invited by China for an official visit. We’ve accepted the invitation but the date for that isn’t fixed either.

What will be the purpose of these two visits?

We want to strengthen our relationships and try to give new dimensions to traditional relationships.

Does the agenda include signing any treaties?

These will be goodwill visits.  A main dimension of our current foreign policy — and it is the current policy — is to gain goodwill and support from our neighbors and other friendly countries to complete the historical tasks that are the peace process and constitution. We’ll not raise any issues that require a lot of discussions and preparations. We can raise them when the transitional phase is over.

There’re rumors that an extradition treaty will be signed with India.

We’ve not prepared any such agenda.

The perception is that India is putting pressure on Nepal to sign an extradition treaty. Have you felt that?

India hasn’t put forward a proposal on any agenda since we formed the government. These things existed in the agenda of the past. But for now, our

agenda will be fixed based on if and how they will present theirs.

The role of external actors increases during the transitional stage.  What is the role of China and India in Nepal’s peace process?

If we unite to shorten and get out of the transitional stage, problems arising from external actors won’t be substantial.  Nepali people don’t want interference in domestic matters from neighboring countries. Our neighboring countries should understand that.

While you were outside of government, there was a lot of talk of national sovereignty. What’s going to happen to that issue now that you’re in the government?

We will not bow down before anyone on the question of national sovereignty and dignity.  While we’re in the government, we’ll raise our issues through diplomatic channels.

Has the relationship between the Maoist party and India improved recently?

Whether or not the relationship has improved will be apparent from the behaviour.  We’ve repeatedly said that we’re not against India.  We are against neither the Indian government nor the Indian people. But our perspective and fundamental stance is that Nepal’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and national interest will be at the center of what we do. No country should consider us against them for this reason. 

Given the changing global context, what are our primary external security challenges?

We should be able to conduct our foreign policy keeping in balance Nepal’s geopolitical situation. First, we should rise above the traditional concept of Nepal being a yam between two rocks. We can be a bridge between two giant countries. We should also address other countries’ valid security interest in Nepal —while protecting our sovereignty and integrity — only then will we be able to face our security challenges and contribute towards peace, security and prosperity in the entire region.

Other non-Maoist parties talk about a special relationship with India whereas your party speaks of equidistant relationship with India and China. Is equidistance the government policy?

Politically, we can’t have a special relationship with one or the other of the two large countries.  Socially and culturally, the reality is that we’re closer to one. But politically, special relationship is not good for national interest.  We should have close relationship with both countries based on the principle of equidistance.

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