Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa returned home after attending the Universal Periodic Review of Nepal at the United National Human Rights Council meeting in Geneva of Switzerland. Talking to media upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Hospital today, he said he informed the world about the humanitarian crisis Nepal is currently facing. He claimed that he raised the issues of border obstruction at the UN forum strongly and the world now knew who was responsible for the problem. “The international community has expressed a belief that Nepal as a land-locked country would get its rights related to transportation and supplies through harmonious dialogues soon,” the Rastriya Samachar Samiti quoted Thapa as telling journalists. He also expressed his confidence that the on-going obstructions at the Indo-Nepal border points would end soon. Mr Thapa is also the head of negotiating team from government to have dialogue with Madeshies. The government's negotiating team, headed by Mr Thapa, has in-principle agreed to re-demarcate the boundaries of the federal provinces, the main demand of the agitating parties. However, to amend the new Constitution, Nepali Congress's involvement was essential as the party commands more than one third seats in the 601-member Constituent Assembly. At least two-thirds majority is required to pass a Constitution Amendment bill. Mr Thapa told PTI that the talks were moving in a positive direction. Madhesis - who claim to represent the interests of the Indian-origin inhabitants of Nepal's Terai region (plains) - have been protesting close to the main Nepal-India trading point near Raxaul, through which about 70 per cent of bilateral trade is done.
