This is my fourth visit to Nepal in three years. This says much about the importance which the UK Government places on the near 200 year-old relationship between the United Kingdom and Nepal.
There are few countries which attract the affection and respect of ordinary Britons in the way that Nepal does. So many Nepalis have made the ultimate sacrifice when serving in the Brigade of Gurkhas, often at Britain’s greatest hour of need and defending freedom.[break]
I am here to look at how the UK is giving something to give back in recognition of that.
Naturally my visit will look at how the UK, as Nepal’s largest bilateral donor, is supporting efforts to combat poverty. For example, I will be inaugurating a new bridge across the Sabha Khola River, built with UK Aid. This bridge will give 700,000 people the opportunity to trade their products and ensure they are able to access schools and health clinics more easily. This is an excellent example of how the UK-Nepal partnership can reduce poverty.
The second reason for my visit is to better understand what is needed to set the whole country on a path to stability and prosperity. When I was last in Nepal in June 2012, Nepal’s political leaders were grappling with the regrettable dissolution of the Constituent Assembly and the subsequent political stalemate. So I am pleased to see signs of progress towards holding elections. Free, fair and credible elections are vital to ensure a much-needed political and constitutional settlement. Without this, it will be difficult to create the foundations for lasting democracy, stability and prosperity.
I am sure that Nepal’s political leaders recognize that the country has been too long in limbo. What better way to resolve the situation than to give you—Nepal’s voters—the chance to vote for a government which can support economic growth and greater prosperity.
Throughout my stay here, I will encourage all the political leaders I meet to support the Interim Election Council and Election Commission in their challenging task between now and elections. Only the nation’s own leaders can make elections a reality and ensure that they are peaceful, credible and of the highest possible quality. The coming months will be critical and will need everyone from across the political spectrum to work together. In particular it is important that everyone entitled to vote gets the opportunity to do so.
The UK, through DFID, plans to provide up to 1.3 billion NPR for the preparation and holding of elections. We also plan to fund domestic, regional and international observers and provide support to civil society organisations and the media to help ensure more women are elected. Nepal set a high standard in 2008, electing one of the most inclusive and diverse assemblies in the world, it should not set its ambition any lower this time. A new constituent assembly with a fresh mandate will be able to complete the important task of drafting a new constitution as foreseen in the Comprehensive Peace Accord.
Nepal has achieved much since 2006 and I encourage all of Nepal’s leaders to take the next step to resolve the current constitutional vacuum, by holding free, fair and inclusive elections that will allow the people to deliver a fresh mandate.
The author is Minister
of State in the Department for International
Development, UK
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