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Nepal-United Kingdom Relations
Political
Nepal established diplomatic relations with Britain in 1816. Relations between the two countries have been characterized by friendship, mutual understanding and respect for each other's national interests and aspirations. The Treaty of Sugauli (1816) provided for the exchange of accredited Ministers to each other's court. A new Treaty of Friendship between Great Britain and Nepal was signed and the status of British Representative in Kathmandu was upgraded to an Envoy. In 1934 Nepal established a legation in London. In 1947, the status of these representatives was promoted to the level of Ambassadors, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary.
Exchange of visits at different levels and periodic consultations between the two sides have played major role in further promoting bilateral relations.
Some important visits:
- His Majesty Late King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev paid a state visit to THE United Kingdom in October 1960.
- Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, accompanied by HRH Prince Philip, the United Kingdom of Edinburgh paid a state visit to Nepal in 1960 and in 1986.
- Their Late Majesties King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Aishworya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah visited the United Kingdom in 1980.
- His Late Majesty King Birendra along with Her Late Royal Highness Princess Shruti visited the United Kingdom in May 1995 on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary of the Victory of the Allies in the Second World War.
- Diana, late Princess of Wales, paid a visit to Nepal from 2 to 6 March 1993, and visited various development projects financed by the United Kingdom.
- His Royal Highness Prince Charles paid an official visit to Nepal from 6 to 9 February 1998.
- Their Majesties King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah paid a private visit to United Kingdom from August 27 to September 7, 2003 in connection with medical check up at Cromwell Hospital in London.
- Prime Minister Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba paid an official visit to the United Kingdom from 10 to 13 November 1996. Rt. Hon. Prime Minister Deuba paid again a visit to the United Kingdom from 12 to 14 May 2002.
- H. E. Mr. Richard Spring MP, Member of the House of Commons and Shadow Minister for Foreign Affairs visited Nepal from 19 to 23 February 2003.
- Mr. Gareth Thomas, British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (PUSS) for International Development visited Nepal from 28 to 30 July 2004.
Economic Cooperation
The British aid to Nepal in various fields of activities started in 1961. The United Kingdom has been offering fellowships to Government of Nepal since 1950s. British volunteers are engaged in Nepal since 1964. These programmes have contributed to Nepal's need for specialized and trained manpower and also have developed important links between the people of the two countries.
The assistance of British Government generally comes through an Umbrella Agreement. The British aid to Nepal is channelled through Department for International Development (DFID). The level of DFID aid for the year 2000/2001 was to the tune of £ 18.52 million, which was increased to £ 22 million by 2002 and to £ 35 million in 2004.
The British Government has been extending its assistance particularly in different Socio-economic fields. Britain's development assistance programme in Nepal is designed to reduce poverty and social exclusion and thus contribute to establishing the basis for a lasting peace. The programme covers work to support governance reforms; improve basic services for poor people (including basic education, health, water and sanitation, agriculture and rural infrastructure); and activities in support of peace building and conflict resolution. Assistance is projected to increase from £26 million in 2003-04 to £35 million in 2004-05 and £47 million in 2005-06.
The United Kingdom has assisted Nepal in the areas of agriculture, transport, local development, communication, education, administration, health, water supply and forestry
Technical cooperation agreement to strengthen the traditional cooperation between Nepal and the United Kingdom was signed on 31st May 1994. This agreement provides for the roles and responsibilities of the two governments regarding the British Technical Cooperation and the British Council activities.
The DFID and its office in Nepal
The Department for International Development (DFID) is the British Government Department responsible for promoting development with emphasis on the reduction of poverty in the developing countries. The DFID opened its office in Kathmandu in March 1999.
International Conference on Nepal in London and Follow up Meeting in Kathmandu
The British Government organized International Conference on Nepal in London on
19-20 June 2002. The meeting expressed its profound concern at the Maoist insurgency
in the country and reaffirmed the solidarity with the government's position and
its action to protecting lives and property of its citizens. The meeting also
reaffirmed the commitment of the international community to provide development
support to Nepal.
British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State His Excellency Mr. Mike O'Brien paid a working visit to Nepal on 9-11 October 2002 to chair the follow up of the London meeting held in Kathmandu on 11 October 2002.
Appointment of Sir Jeffery Russell James as Special Representative of British Government to Nepal
The British Government appointed Sir Jeffrey Russell James as the United Kingdom's Special Representative for Nepal from February 24, 2003. In an announcement made by the Minister for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs of the United Kingdom, the British Government committed to assisting Nepal and identifying ways to help resolve her problems, including putting an end to a conflict that has resulted in immense suffering for the Nepalese people. The statement further stated that Sir Jeffrey's role would be to provide a strong focal point for the United Kingdom policy towards Nepal and in particular to coordinate the United Kingdom and international efforts in support of the cease-fire and the peace process.
After his appointment, Sir Jeffrey visited Nepal several times and called on high-ranking officials of Government of Nepal and discussed about the political and security situations of Nepal. His visited Nepal last time as Special Representative from 24 April 2005 to May 4, 2005.
Visit of Mr. Gareth Thomas, British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for DFID
Mr. Gareth Thomas, British Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (PUSS) for Department for International Development visited Nepal from 28 to 30 July 2004. The purpose of his visit to discuss the development and political situation in Nepal with high ranking officials of Government of Nepal/Nepal as well as to give details of the United Kingdom support for education and health sector programme and to meet DFID staff in Nepal.
Explaining the remarkable boost in British government aid to Nepal in recent months, Thomas said that the British government thinks that normal development activities should not be disturbed even in a conflict situation. "This is the reason why we have made a remarkable increment in our assistance to Nepal in recent years," he said, adding that since poor and rural people are the worst hit by the ongoing conflict, British aid has been directed to addressing the problems of those people.
He also stressed that one of the objectives of the increased assistance is to extend support to efforts to restore peace and to accelerate development activities in the country, and underlined that, "Concerned parties should understand this purpose." Mr. Thomas further said that British government is particularly interested in the country's long-term and sustainable development, explaining, "That is why our assistance has been mainly focused on the education and health sectors in recent years."
He also expressed his delight over the successes of the programs and projects running under British aid, particularly in rural areas, and said that most of the programs have been successful in achieving their goals.
Visit of Mr. Douglas Alexander, Ministry of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Office
H. E. Mr. Douglas Alexander, Minister of State of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom visited Nepal from 8 to 10 November 2004. The purpose of his visit was to familiarise himself with the political and economic situation in Nepal, including through meetings with high level official of Government of Nepal and leading political figures, and also visits to development projects funded by the British Government.
While in Nepal, H. E. Mr. Alexander said, "Our two countries have close ties. The United Kingdom has the longest history of representation in Nepal of any foreign state; many prominent Nepalis have studied and lived in the United Kingdom; we have one of the largest bilateral development assistance programmes in the country and we are all familiar with the formidable reputation of the Gurkhas and of the valuable contribution they have long made to the British army."
Referring to bilateral trade and investment, Mr. Alexander stated that Nepal and the the United Kingdom are yet to tap trade potentials and opportunities.
British Gurkhas
The recruitment of Gurkha Army was organised by way of the Tripartite Agreement of 1947 among Nepal, India and the United Kingdom. Currently the strength of the Gurkhas in the British Army is about 3,500.
British Gurkhas is a fully integrated part of the British Armed Forces. It constitutes an important element in Nepal-Britain relations. In recognition of their distinguished service, the British Gurkhas servicemen from Nepal has won 13 Victoria Crosses (VC), the highest British gallantry honour.
BGN administers the Gurkhas Welfare Scheme through 24 of its Area Welfare Centres (AWCs) located in areas where ex-servicemen live. Welfare assistance includes grants to relieve hardships, family pensions, and scholarship for children, medical aid and support for projects such as building potable water systems, bridges and schools.
Compensation for Gurkha prisoners
The British Government set up a separate office in Kathmandu in March 2004 to receive applications from the Gurkhas who were held prisoners by Japan during the Second World War. The applications were sought following the decision of the British High Court to award Sterling Pound 10,000 to such prisoners as compensation. By March 2005, the British Embassy made an Ex-gratia payment of £ 10,000.00 to those applicants whose applications were processed.
Granting of Permanent Residency to Ex-British Gurkhas
British Government announced on 29 September 2004 that the immigration rules would be changed to let the former British Gurkha soldiers to stay in Britain. Gurkha soldiers who have served at least four years with the British Army and were discharged after July 1, 1997, the date at which the brigade's headquarters was moved to the United Kingdom, will be eligible to apply to citizenship. Thus a large number of Gurkha soldiers who want to settle in the United Kingdom with their families would be allowed remain permanently in the United Kingdom.
Business and Commercials Relations
The United Kingdom occupies among the top ten countries in Nepal's bilateral trade. Major Nepalese exports to the United Kingdom are goatskin, leather goods, Nepalese paper and paper products, woollen carpets, handicrafts, ready-made garments, silverware and jewellery. Likewise, major imports from the United Kingdom are copper scrap, hard drinks, cosmetics, medicine and medical equipment, textiles, copper wire rod, machinery and parts, aircraft and spare parts, scientific research equipment, office equipment and stationery.
An agreement on promotion and protection of investment between Nepal and the United Kingdom was signed on March 2, 1993. There are some British joint ventures in the areas of hotel, travel & trekking, tea production, garments, biotechnology and consultancy.
Tourism
A sizeable number of British tourists come to Nepal every year for trekking and mountaineering and other leisurely activities. A total number of 24,644 British tourists visited Nepal in the year 2004.
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