Karki's agrement binned?

KATHMANDU, Jan 25: The agrement of Ram Karki, Nepali ambassador-designate to India, has not come even after nearly two months since the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) sent his agrement to the southern neighbor for approval.



The ministry sent Karki´s agrement to India on November 27, 2011. [break]



Sources at the MoFA said they have taken the delay as unusual because India had sent agrement of two immediate previous Nepali ambassadors in less than a month´s time.



Knowledgeable sources at the ministry said India had sent back the agrements of former ambassador Rukma SJB Rana within a month while it took less than two weeks for the southern neighbor to approve the agrement of former ambassador Durgesh Man Singh.



"Though three months time is standard in diplomatic convention to get agrements approved by any country, it is unusual in Karki´s case considering the time taken for approving the agrements of two immediate previous ambassadors," said a senior official at MoFA.



Sources familiar to diplomatic practices said that host countries generally consult their home ministries, security agencies and even intelligence about the ambassador-designate before approving agrements. And, this process often takes time.



Sources said India might have taken time to get clearance from its home ministry and security agencies on Karki´s agrement as he has strong connections in India and his wife works there.

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