Kathmandu, Sept 4: The US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Nisha Desai Biswal on Sunday called on Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat at the ministry in Singha Durbar.
The meeting dwelt on matters related to enhance bilateral relations and mutual interests of Nepal and the United States of America, it is stated.
During the meeting, Minister Dr Mahat is said to have lauded assistances the US has provided during and aftermath of the 25 April 2015 earthquake and the supports it has been providing for the development of Nepal since long.
In return, the Assistant Secretary Desai proposed to form a bilateral joint mechanism to further strengthen relations between Nepal and the US.
Meanwhile, Assistant Minister of State Desai enquired whether or not Nepal is committed to keep the remaining 10,000 Bhutanese refugees following repatriation of hundreds of Bhutanese refugees to third countries from Nepal under the UNHCR refugee resettlement programmes.
In response, Dr Mahat said Nepal sheltered the refugees on humanitarian ground and it has been advocating for their unconditional and respectful return to their county.
The Minister also sought international community’s support to Nepal’s stance to that end.
Nepal has been insisting that Bhutan also should create environment for the refugees to return their home, he said. RSS
