Re-building bridges
Foreign Minister Upendra Yadav was in Delhi recently to participate in the ministerial level meeting of BIMSTEC. The visit coincided with the havoc that Kosi caused. He met Indian Prime Minister, Foreign Affairs Minister and other high officials during his visit.
Yadav talked with Om Astha Rai and Yubaraj Ghimire for Newsfront about his assessment of Indian mood and thinking, regarding the bilateral relations, as Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal prepares for his official trip to Delhi on 14 September. Excerpts of the interview
How do you assess your recent visit to Delhi within days of you becoming the Foreign Minister?
It was mainly to participate in the ministerial meeting of BIMSTEC, but I used the opportunity to present Nepal's case and listen to India on issues of bilateral importance. Our relation with India is very old and time tested. It is our nearest friend. Naturally, our concern is to consolidate and strengthen that relationship. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's trip to China in haste had injected some doubts in Indian media as well as in the political and officialdom in Delhi. I think I have been able to dispel some of the wrong impressions there.
What did you tell them?
Nepal has almost always felt that it is at a losing end because of many deals, agreements or treaties in the past, but it has never been able to put its point of view across the table with India, with clarity and candor. I think I managed to do that under no uncertain terms.
What was India's response?
Foreign Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee was very clear and candid with me. If Nepal wanted the 1950 treaty of peace and friendship scrapped, amended, India is ready. I found no reason to doubt that as India has already amended the 1949 treaty with Bhutan. He said Nepal should have no room for any confusion. I can tell you that Nepali leaders and officials who visited Delhi in the past did not openly speak their minds. But I raised all these issues keeping Nepal’s interest uppermost in my mind.
The Maoist party has been saying all along that the 1950 treaty with India is unequal and should be scrapped. Prime Minister himself said the Kosi agreement was a blunder and needs amendment?
We must work together to find out what the inequalities and areas are that may need changes. We must be clear first if we are to effectively put across our view points with India. It will be a mistake on our part to be carried away by slogans and sentiments. Yes, all these agreements and treaties must be viewed in tune with the changing times.
Your visit to Delhi coincided with the breach of Kosi embankment and the ravage it caused in Nepal and Bihar. How did this issue figure?
We are serious about carrying effective rescue, relief and rehabilitation matters. Our immediate concern was to repair the breach and protect other vulnerable points. Nepali and Indian engineers and officials are working on that, and have succeeded to some extent. There are humanitarian measures like providing drinking water, medical facilities besides their proper rehabilitation.
The highway that has been damaged needs to be repaired and restored. Re-establishing links with the east and west Nepal is also vitally important for us. We are concerned and committed to control flood, and minimise the damage it can cause. I found India equally committed.
We need to take major decisions based on experts’ suggestions. If need be, we can engage with other agencies like World Bank, Asian Development Bank etc. We also need to discuss the nature of Kosi river that transports volumes of silt, what to do with the current barrage and whether we need a new barrage.
Is high dam an Indian priority?
Our major concern is how to resolve or mitigate the threats of the river. India may have its preference for high dams. But it is something that ought to be guided primarily by experts’ evaluation. Some think high dams should be built; others feel Sunkoshi should be linked with Kamala. Only the experts can give us the best prescription.
What was India's response to the current damage? Media reports even suggested that you apologised for the breach admitting that it was because of the lapse on the part of Nepal?
I told Indian leaders that under the agreement, repair and maintenance of the Kosi embankment is India's responsibility. I did not apologise. One newspaper gave its version to that effect, but I think they corrected it in their subsequent issue. Let's not get into a blame game. I only tried to convince our friends to honour our obligations under the agreement. The damage that Kosi has caused to Indian side is far bigger than on Nepal side. We are sorry about that and we do feel for the people affected on the other side.
Coming back to the 1950 treaty, is the government of Nepal clear about what kind of amendment or update it wants?
We are studying it. All that I can tell you at the moment is that we will take a cautious approach. We must take into account the pros and cons of all moves we make.
Is a new extradition treaty also in the offing?
I think it was prepared long ago after a series of meetings between the officials of the two sides in the past. But I am not sure that it will be tagged along with the 1950 treaty issue.
How upset were the Indians over PM Dahal undertaking his first trip to Beijing, deviating from the past practices?
I think there were some doubts on the breach of the practice. But they are now convinced that it was the Olympic related visit and at least the political level, such suspicion does not exist any more. But of course, the Indian media continues to harp on that.
What do we expect out of the PM's trip to Delhi?
One visit of course will not be decisive in that sense. But this is an occasion for us to build a vision - our own, and together with friends, in this crucial phase in the life of the nation. We will succeed in our diplomacy including economic diplomacy if we build a clear vision. Efficiency and vision together will lead us to success. I only hope that the PM's Delhi trip will be a new beginning.
