Kathmandu [Nepal], July 30 – Nepal’s Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal will represent the country at the United Nations General Assembly in New York and a high-level meeting marking the 65th anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Belgrade after Prime Minister Balen Shah opted not to attend either event.
Government officials had recommended that Shah lead Nepal’s delegation to the UN General Assembly in September, but he declined to participate paving the way for Khanal to represent the country. The foreign minister will travel with his wife, Foreign Secretary Amrit Rai, Joint Secretary Krishna Dhakal and under Secretary Lochan Khanal.
Before the UN gathering Khanal will attend a commemorative high-level meeting in Belgrade, Serbia, on August 31 and September 1 to mark the 65th anniversary of the first NAM Summit. The Nepali delegation for the Belgrade meeting will comprise four members including Joint Secretary Krishna Dhakal Under Secretary Madhusudan and another official.
The inaugural NAM summit was held in Belgrade from September 1 to 6, 1961 when the city was part of the former Yugoslavia. Nepal a founding member of the movement was represented at the time by King Mahendra.
In previous NAM summits Nepal has typically been represented by its prime minister. This year however, the foreign minister will attend in place of the head of government.
Diplomatic observers say participation by the prime minister at forums such as the UN General Assembly and the NAM meeting offers valuable opportunities to strengthen Nepal’s international engagement. Leaders close to Shah have maintained that he does not plan to undertake any foreign visits during his first year in office, a decision where diplomats say could limit Nepal’s diplomatic outreach.
