Govt committed to implementing the principle of inclusion: Saud

KATHMANDU: Minister for Foreign Affairs, NP Saud, has reiterated the government’s commitment to implementing the principle of inclusion in all its appointment in accordance with the spirit of the constitution.

Speaking at the meeting of the Parliamentary Hearing Committee on Wednesday, Saud said Nepal’s foreign service serves as a shining example of inclusion. “Out of the 26 ambassadors representing Nepal worldwide, three are women, four are from ethnic communities, one is from the Madhesi community, and one has a physical disability,” Saud said. “Likewise, the ministry currently has two joint secretaries from the Madhesi community, two women, and two from the indigenous nationalities community out of 17 quotas. Additionally, among the 50 under-secretary level officials, 17 are women, eight are from indigenous nationalities, two are from the Madhesi community, two are from the Dalit community, and one each from the backward region and people with disability.”

Saud made the comment after some members said that the government flouted the principle of inclusion while making ambassadorial appointments.

The government has proposed Lok Bahadur Thapa for Nepal’s permanent mission in New York, Ram Prasad Subedi for Nepal’s permanent mission in Geneva, Sudhir Bhattarai for France, Ghanshyam Lamsal for Kuwait, Tej Bahadur Chhetri for the UAE, and Dhan Bahadur Oli for Thailand.

The committee is conducting hearings with the proposed ambassadors to gather information about their qualifications, mandates, concepts, and visions. Prior to this, the committee had issued a 10-day notice for filing complaints against the recommendation.  One of the five complaints that the committee received was that the government flouted the principle of inclusion while making recommendations for ambassadorial appointments.