Regmi curtails, Ghimire cancels UN trip

KATHMANDU, Sept 10: Amid criticism from various quarters, Chairman of the Interim Election Council Khil Raj Regmi has decided to cut short his visit to the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).



Also, Minister for Foreign and Home Affairs Madhav Prasad Ghimire, who was part of his 14-member delegation to the UNGA, cancelled his trip in view of the political situation at home, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said on Tuesday. [break]



According to MoFA spokesman Dipak Dhital, the Nepali delegation to the UNGA will be led by Chairman Regmi as per the tradition of the head of state leading the UNGA delegation. “Though the visit has been cut short we are trying to schedule all important sideline meetings within that period,” said Dhital.



Chairman Regmi was earlier scheduled to fly to New York on September 21 and return home 10 days later. “The chairman will fly to New York on September 26 and leave for home on September 30,” he said.

Regmi is scheduled to address the General Assembly on September 28. However, Regmi´s earlier plan to take part in a high-level meeting of the General Assembly on disability and development to be held on September 23 -- a day before the UNGA General Debate formally kicks off -- has been cancelled.



The decision of Chairman Regmi to cut short the visit and Minister Ghimire to cancel the trip to the UNGA comes in the wake of criticism from various quarters that the absence of both Chairman Regmi and Minister Ghimire, who is tasked with the responsibility for ensuring a conducive security environment for the constituent assembly polls, may jeopardize the prospect of the November polls.



According to Chairman Regmi´s press advisor Bimal Gautam, Minister Ghimire decided to cancel his trip after consultation with Chairman Regmi. “Minister Ghimire decided to cancel his visit as per the discussions held between Chairman Regmi and Minister Ghimire on Friday,” Gautam told Republica.



He also said there was no connection between the decision by Regmi and Ghimire and recent media controversy surrounding their proposed visit to the UNGA.



Earlier, Minister Ghimire, who was a member of the Regmi´s delegation, was scheduled to leave for Washington DC on September 17, four days before the original date of Chairman Regmi´s departure to New York. Ghimire was supposed to join Regmi in New York on September 23 after participating in a meeting of the Nepal caucus of US Congressmen.

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