Prabhu Yadav,
Lecturer in English, Patan Multiple Campus, TU
And former Treasurer of Nepal council of World Affairs (NCWA)
Abstract:
Nepal, a geo-strategic country in South Asia, has based its foreign policy on the basic principles of the Non-Aligned Movement. The fundamental objective of the foreign policy is to enhance the dignity of Nepal in the international arena by maintaining the sovereignty, integrity and independence of the country. The foreign policy of Nepal is guided by the abiding faith in the United Nations and policy of non-alignment. The basic principles guiding the foreign policy of the country include mutual respect for each other’s territorial integrity and sovereignty; noninterference in each other’s internal affairs; respect for mutual equality; nonaggression and cooperation for mutual benefit.
Keywords: Nepal’s role in foreign policy, militarization and degradation of the environment.
Introduction:
In the mid Twentieth Century, Nepal became a member of Non – Aligned Movement (NAM), initiated by the third world leaders like Ghana’s first president Kwame Nkrumah, Yugoslavia’s president Josip Broz Tito, Egypt’s second president Gamal Abdel Nasser, Indonesia’s first president Sukarrno, and India’s first Prime Minister Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru. The notion of the Non – Aligned Movement was to “ensure independence, and it stayed away from military alliance represented by the former Soviet Union and the United States of America” (3). The concept of NAM was formed to neutralize the Cold War. The concept of NAM was first “propounded by Indian diplomat V. K. Krishna Menon” at the UN in 1953.The countries of Non Aligned Movement were united for their independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and security. Nepal wanted to be a free and peaceful nation by keeping itself aloof from military alliance in accordance with NAM principles. The security of a nation is the cornerstone issue of the Non – Aligned Movement. Nepal as a member of NAM also propounded a distinct philosophy of Lord Buddha and the dignity of the tallest peak Mt. Everest in world history.
Several treaties were signed with many countries in the year 1955. Nepal became a signatory of the UN Charter in December and Nepal’s diplomatic relations with People’s Republic of China was established in August, 1955. During the six decades of the 1950 treaty with India, Nepal’s foreign policy has followed “codes of the UN Charter, the Panchsheel, principles and objectives of International Law and NAM”(2). Nepal has always come under Indian influence in conducting its domestic affairs. Such an influence is not good as it might exacerbate bilateral relations.
Nepal’s Role, Policy and Position In the post-World War II era, Nepal’s presence in the Non-Aligned movement went a long way for asserting the sovereign status of the country in the global order. In the early 1950s, many countries were not very sure about whether Nepal was a truly sovereign and independent country. This was reflected in the reservations encountered when Nepal first applied for membership of the United Nations in 1953. So, late King Mahendra as well as other Nepali leaders made widespread international recognition of Nepal’s independence and sovereignty as the prime focus of Nepal’s foreign policy in the late 1950s and 1960s. King Mahendra’s participation at the Afro–Asian Conference, in Bandung, Indonesia in April 1955, was Nepal’s first foray into the international arena. Nepal participated in the conference of the Non-Aligned countries held in 1955 in Bangdung, Indonesia and has also been working for the promotion of the five principles of Panchasheel adopted by the conference. Nepal is one of the founding members of the movement. This was followed by Nepal’s admission as a member of the UN in December 1955. Thereafter, Nepal used the Summits of the Non-aligned Movement as important forums for asserting its status as a truly sovereign and independent country.
Nepal’s active participation in the Ministerial and Summit-level meetings of the non-aligned movement allowed Nepali leaders to rub shoulders with diplomats and politicians from many countries with whom Nepal had not even established diplomatic relations.
Nepal has always championed and defended the core values of the non-aligned movement. Nepal as an active member of the NAM has robustly contributed in all its Summit meetings and other forums since foundation with the objective of giving vitality to this organization.
At the 17th Ministerial Meeting of NAM held at Algiers in 2014, Nepal was represented by its foreign minister. In the conference, Minister for Foreign Affairs Mahendra Pandey voiced Nepal’s concerns with stronger emphasis on greater and effective unity and solidarity among the NAM member countries ‘on all outstanding issues and problems’, and called for a cohesive approach to make the Non-Aligned Movement more effective and dynamic.
This has been the consistent position and stance of Nepal ever since it joined the organization. In principle, Nepal’s policy and position have remained unchanged on NAM’s relevance and the need for making this movement more meaningful, vibrant and effective in tackling a wide range of problems and issues that the worlds, in general, and the developing world, in particular, are facing.
The great importance Nepal attaches to NAM can be gleaned from its foreign policy, which is based on the ideals and principles of the UN Charter and the Non-aligned Movement Moreover, Nepal has also expressed a desire to support the initiatives of the Non-Aligned Movement to combat abject poverty, violation of human rights, the culture of violence and impunity, excessive militarization, and degradation of the environment.
Nepal – Russia Relations:
Let me share with you a few words about the enduring bonds of cooperation and support between both Nepal and Russia. The Global Network Annual Meeting 2019 being held in all three cities, Moscow, Crimea and St. Petersburg, has provided me the opportunity to highlight “Nepal – Russia Relations: A Nepalese Perspective”.
Nepal – Russia relations have remained cordial, cooperative, friendly and problem free ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than six decades ago. Nepal, in fact, takes pride in maintaining cordial and friendly relations with Russia which has remained a major influential power in international relations.
Addressing a program organized by different Nepal – Russia friendship associations such as Russia Centre of Science and Culture, Nepal- Russia Friendship and Culture Association, Nepal – Russia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Mitrakunj, Russian Compatriots Program organized to mark the anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Russia and Nepal, Chief Guest, the then deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister and former Speaker of Nepalese Parliament, Krishna Bahadur Mahara said that “Nepal – Russia relations have always been remained cordial and Russia is Nepal’s trusted friend.” He further continued: “Nepal always attaches great importance to relations with Russia. It has been playing a very important role to maintain world peace and harmony.” As a permanent member of UN Security Council, Russia no doubt plays a decisive role in maintaining international peace and security. As we all know, Russia is one of the few nuclear powers of the world. While its nuclear arsenal is huge and vast, it is not opposed to nuclear disarmament on earth and in space.
Russia has assisted Nepal in human resources development (HRD) by providing opportunities, including scholarships to Nepalese students to study various courses, including technical subjects like medicine and engineering in reputed Russian universities and other advanced technical institutes. Nepal is proud to have more than 5000 Nepalese graduates of the Russian universities. These graduates have occupied important positions in government as well as in the private sector.
Russia has made tremendous progress in the field of science and technology, including exploration of outer space. It is our belief that Russia is opposed to militarization and nuclearization of outer space and has shown its readiness to reduce, if not completely eliminate, its nuclear stockpiles. Speaking at the 10th meeting of the Fourth Committee of sixty fifth UN General Assembly, the representative of the Russian Federation said that “the world faced the risk of turning outer space into an arena for the arms race which would negatively impact the overall spirit of cooperation and trust amongst countries.
”It is a matter of satisfaction that Russia welcomes any initiative that would ensure sustainable peace so that people, in both developed and developing countries, could work to create a stable, prosperous and peaceful society. For development to take place at an accelerated pace, a country like Nepal needs trained and educated manpower and Russian cooperation in HRD development of this country is highly appreciated.
The way Forward:
Finally, we are confident that the present conference being held in Moscow, Crimea and St. Petersburg will strengthen global efforts to create a new global order based on peace, justice, equity and harmony to honour the aspirations of mankind against all kinds of arms and armament. The whole world knows that nations are spending millions of money in amassing arms and nuclear weapons on earth and even in space. Such a situation is bound to lead humanity to the brink of catastrophic war on earth and even in space. It is in this context that sensible human beings should oppose all war mongering activities that could ultimately invite the very extinction of humanity.
End text.
# Text courtesy: The Nepal Council of World Affairs Annual Journal, 2020.
# Thanks the author and the NCWA team of editors of the Journal: Ed. Upadhyaya. N. P
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Madhavje & Anjan, Kathmandu: ICC, 2016.