The proposal for the same is planned to be presented at the upcoming General Assembly of the United Nations (UNGA) for endorsement. The UNGA is scheduled to take place in September 2021.

The UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) has already granted permission to present the proposal for graduation at the UNGA for endorsement.

A recent meeting of the UN’s ECOSOC held in New York acknowledged Nepal’s eligibility to graduate to the country of mid-level income from the present status of low income, informed Amrit Rai, Chief of the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN.

Nepal had fulfilled two out of three stipulated criteria for graduation, one in 2015 and the other in 2018, said Rai. “Earlier, we had asked to put on hold the proposal for graduation, citing the devastating earthquake at the moment. Now, it is entering into the phase of endorsement.”

Nepal has secured a position in the list of eligible countries for graduation after meeting the two among the three graduation thresholds of criteria, including Gross National Income (GNI) per capita, Human Asset Index (HAI), and Economic and Environmental Vulnerability Index (EVI).

Following the endorsement of graduation, it requires almost three years to draft a complementary plan for transitional management. Fortunately, Nepal’s timeline has been extended by two years to 2026 by the UN, citing the coronavirus pandemic.

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As part of his visit to UN General Assembly (UNGA) session in New York, Prime Minister Deuba held separate bilateral discussions with his counterparts from various countries including Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on Thursday.

According to the Nepali Permanent Mission in New York, matters related to common bilateral and international interests were discussed in Deuba’s discussions with the government representatives of various countries.

In a meeting with Deuba, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed emphasized the need for enhancement of transport connectivity and utilization of the Bangladesh, Bhutan, India and Nepal (BBIN) framework. Both the sides also discussed energy cooperation through joint investment in Nepali hydropower sector.

Deuba’s discussions with Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena focused on strengthening bilateral cooperation through historic and religious linkages.

Recalling 60 years of Nepal-Sri Lanka bilateral ties, Deuba and Sirisena discussed cooperation in trade, tourism and economic sectors.

Calling for the early holding of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) summit, Nepal called for deeper cooperation among SAARC members.

Nepal’s Foreign Policy Dictated by Regional Realties, says Deuba

Post the UNGA session, Nepali Prime Minister participated in a student session at the Columbia University, New York, wherein, he responded on various key issues.

In his response to queries on geopolitical relations of Nepal, Deuba said that Nepal’s geopolitical relations are being dictated by the regional realities.

He also reiterated that ties with India and China are of national interest to Nepal.

On the issue of Rohingya refugees in Nepal, Deuba said, “We cannot afford more refugees in Nepal unfortunately. We are still facing refugee problems because Bhutanese refuges are there. There are a few Rohingya in Nepal. We can’t welcome more. We have limitations. I think the Myanmar Government can deal with this problem.”

With regard to forming of the largest-ever cabinet, Deuba hinted at the chances of further cabinet expansion.

Informing that the Nepali Constitution allows up to 10 percent of the total number of parliamentarians in the cabinet, he said the parliament currently has 595 lawmakers and the cabinet size can go up to 60 as per the existing law.

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Nepal has raised its key concerns at the 72^nd United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) currently being held in New York.

“As we embark upon a path of implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, challenges are the litmus tests for our leadership,” said Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in his address at the 72^nd annual General Debate session held at UNGA.

Addressing sessions held on the sidelines of UNGA, Deuba raised various key issues related to human rights, UNRC membership, migrants, cooperation at times of natural disaster, among others pertaining to the development of Nepal.

“Global community faces a more complex and polarized environment with multiple transnational challenges ranging from terrorism, climate change, energy deficiency, food insecurity, and mass migration to extremism. Unfortunately, our efforts have been too little, and often too late. All these challenges reinforce the role and responsibility of the United Nations,” said PM Deuba.

Nepal’s Candidature for UNHRC

Candidature in the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) has been a matter of concern for Nepal. Finally, on the occasion of UNGA, PM Deuba presented Nepal’s candidature to UNHRC for the 2018-2020 term.

In this regard, he said, “Nepal’s first-ever election to the Council would be a recognition to the country’s long commitment and contribution in the field of human rights and an encouragement to do more at national as well as global levels”.

He also pitched in on the need for improvement of human rights situation in Nepal by strengthening National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and protecting the rights of women and other disadvantaged sections of the Nepali society.

The Nepali Prime Minister also pitched in for a ‘zero case scenario’ in case of attacks on civilians, abuse, sexual exploitation and also urged for greater security in case of migrants.

A Special Request Under Peacekeeping Operations

With regard to UN peacekeeping operations, Nepali PM urged UN to ensure fair opportunity to the countries contributing troop and security personnel by placing them at leadership positions, both on-field and at headquarters.

Pitching in for Nepali participation in higher ranks of UN peacekeeping operations, Deuba made an official request to increase the number of Nepali Army deployed in UN missions for which, UN General Secretary responded positively saying that would be taken on utmost priority.

The Permanent Mission of Nepal to UN in New York expressed hope that the request would be addressed soon.

Deuba also urged UN to utilize Nepal’s Birendra Peace Operations Training Centre, the oldest in the region, and also contribute for its development as a regional center of excellence for peacekeeping training.

Nepali Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara reiterated Nepal’s commitment to peacekeeping operations.

Currently, there are more than 5,000 Nepali security personnel deployed in various UN missions globally and Nepal is the largest troop and police contributing country.

Call for Ban on Destructive Weapons

“Nepal welcomes the confidence-building measures on conventional weapons, ending nearly two decades of stalemate in the UN Disarmament Commission. Nepal has signed the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a step towards nuclear disarmament” said Deuba calling for complete disarmament.

He further said that Nepal, as the host to the Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament for Asia-Pacific, would call for reactivation of the regional disarmament deliberations under the Kathmandu Process. 

“Nepal condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and anywhere in the world. The world must come together to address not just its symptoms but the root causes. Early conclusion of the anti-terrorism global convention is the call of our time,” Deuba added.

Migration, Need of the Hour

Stating that there is an urgent need for addressing migration-related issues, the Nepali Prime Minister said Nepal is eagerly waiting for a successful outcome of the 2018 Global Compact on Migration.

“Nepal calls for concerted efforts at the national, regional and international levels to ensure that the migration process creates a fair and win-win situation to all. We call for safety, security, dignity and well-being of all migrant workers,” said Deuba.

LLDCs and LDCs Not Getting Benefitted

“Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs) have not been developing from the process of globalization,” said Deuba speaking at the UNGA session.

In this regard, he called on UN to ensure that these two groups of countries have partnerships and technology transfer and reliable and sustainable financing to overcome structural impediments.

He further said the South-South cooperation in terms of trade, investment and technology should be fully exploited.

“LDCs are the most vulnerable group of countries. They cannot be perennially equated with dehumanizing conditions of poverty and under development. They must be enabled to smoothly and sustainably graduate at an early date,” he added.

Speaking on bilateral relations with other countries, Deuba said, “Nepal believes in non-alignment. In exercise of our independent foreign policy, we judge every issue on its merit without fear or favor. We consider regional cooperation an important means for building trust and confidence among nations and making the best use of complementarities for shared prosperity.”

Permanent Representative of Nepal to UN Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Krishna Bahadur Mahara, Foreign Affairs Advisor to the Prime Minister Dinesh Bhattarai and Foreign Affairs Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi and were among other key Nepali officials who took part in UNGA sessions.

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Securing Nepal’s seat in the United Nations Human Rights Commission (UNHRC) is high on Nepali Prime Minister’s agenda during his upcoming visit to New York for the UN General Assembly (UNGA).

Be it announcing candidacy or further extending the tenure of Nepal’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador to UN Durga Prasad Bhattarai, the Government of Nepal has been making consistent efforts to win UNHRC membership.

Speaking in this regard, a senior Foreign Ministry official said, “This is our major diplomatic agenda for this year. PM will seek support from the member states in all bilateral meetings and engagements.”

Reiterating their commitment towards securing Nepal’s candidature, other Nepali officials also said, “The country’s delegates will make a pitch that Nepal believes fair opportunity for all interested states to serve in the UN Human Rights Council and would contribute to the common goals of promotion and protection of human rights everywhere.”

Nepal will also be seeking support regarding its bid for UNHRC for the 2018-20 term.

Apart from PM, other senior Nepali officials including Deputy Prime Minister Krishna Bahadur Mahara will also be taking part in various high-level meetings in New York.

Mahara is set to leave for New York on September 17, 2017, wherein, he will be heading the Foreign Ministerial level meeting of the South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Council of Ministers and also participate in a meeting of the Asian Cooperation Dialogue that Nepal entered in 2006.

The Prime Minister is scheduled to leave Kathmandu on September 19, 2017, and will be addressing UNGA on September 23, 2017.

Ministerial-level meetings of Landlocked Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Non-aligned Movement, G-77, South-South Cooperation, UN Peacekeeping Operations are among key meetings Nepal will be participating in on the sidelines of UNGA. The country is also expected to sign the Treaty on Prohibiting Nuclear Weapons.

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Nepal will upgrade from the level of Least Developed Countries (LDC) to join the list of developed countries by 2022, said a National Planning Commission’s (NPC) key official in a recently-held seminar.

In his address at the National Consultation Seminar held by Least Developed Countries (LDC) Watch, NPC Joint Secretary Lal Shanker Ghimire informed that the Commission has set a goal of upgrading Nepal from the LDC group by 2022.

According to Ghimire, this was a step forward from the Commission’s previous objective set in its 12^th periodic plan of upgrading Nepal by 2030.

Ghimire opined that tackling corruption, upholding good governance and bringing political stability for extensive growth and social development are key to achieve the said goal.

Meanwhile, LDC Watch’s International Coordinator Gauri Pradhan pitched on the need for positive socio-economic development in Nepal. Pradhan felt that Nepal could possibly reach the list of developed countries between 2017 and 2024.

On the occasion, the civil society organizations endorsed a 12-point Kathmandu Declaration Paper.

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