Amid calls to stay home, Bhattarai to head for Rio with jumbo team
KATHMANDU, JUN 08 -
While there have been calls from various quarters to not leave the country that is reeling under serious political and constitutional crises, Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai is all set to fly to Rio de Janerio, Brazil, on June 18 to attend the Rio plus 20 summit with as many as 23 other officials.
Officials involved in the preparations said more are likely to be included later.Air tickets, accommodation facilities and daily allowances for members of the delegation will come through the state coffers.
Government officials said it is again not good to shy away from international commitments and that the PM must lead the country in the Brazil meeting that marks the 20th anniversary of the 1992 UN Conference on Environment and Development and the 10th anniversary of the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development.
As of Thursday, a list of 24 members, including the PM, has been finalised. “The UNDP has taken the responsibility of arranging the tickets and we do not know in which class the PM and his delegation will fly,” sources said.
According to sources involved in the preparations of the Rio visit, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha, Minister for Environment Keshav Man Shakya, Vice Chairman of the National Planning Commisison Dipendra Bahadur Chettri, the Foreign Secretary, a secretary from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the Secretary of the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conversation, Secretary of the Ministry of Environment and five joint secretaries are some members of the delegation.
The Chief of Protocol, two journalists—one from Nepal TV and another from the Rastriya Samachar Samiti—and two security personnel of the PM, Nepal’s Permanent Representative to the UN Gyan Chandra Acharya, his two junior officials and Nepali Ambassador to Brazil PB Shah and his deputy are also included in the list.
“As of now, it is not confirmed whether the PM’s spouse will join the delegation,” sources said.
“The movement of the head of government is guided by national interests and according to convenience, but at this difficult stage, it is not good to be away from the country,” Bhek Bhadur Thapa, a senior diplomat, said.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
