Nepal-Poland Relations: 50th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
Diplomatic relations between Nepal and Poland were established on 25 November 1959.
The Office of the Polish Trade Representative was opened in Kathmandu in 1966, which was closed after the establishment of the residential Polish Embassy in Kathmandu in 1974.
The Association is still based in Solec Street in Warsaw, the capital of Poland.
Later, the Polish Embassy in Kathmandu was closed citing austerity reasons. Currently, the Polish Ambassador stationed in New Delhi is accredited to Nepal and the Embassy of Nepal in Germany is concurrently accredited to Poland.
The Nepal-Poland Friendship Association, founded in 1975, has been appealing the Polish and the Nepalese governments to open a full-fledged Embassy in Warsaw and Kathmandu that have not yet been materialized. The NPFA (Nepal Poland Friendship Association) is still trying to convince both the governments in this regard.
Relations between Nepal and Poland are based on friendship, cordiality and mutual respect. In September 1969, the then Foreign Minister Mr. G.B. Rajbhandari visited Poland and held discussions with his Polish counterpart on matters of mutual interests.
The then Minister for Foreign Affairs Honorable Chakra Prasad Bastola led a four-member Nepalese delegation to Warsaw, Poland during 24-28 June 2000, to participate in the Ministerial Conference on "Towards a Community of Democracies".
The conference was participated in by delegates from 107 countries.
Deputy Minister of Economy H.E. Wojeich Jan Katner visited Nepal in April 1999 and discussed about the possibility of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Much ahead of this, the Chairmen of both the Friendship Associations, Mr. N.P. Upadhyaya (NPFA) and Mr. Andrzej Wawarzyniak (PNFA) were constantly encouraging their respective governments to intensify their bilateral relations through the use of expanded commercial and economic relations.
In August 1966, a Trade and Payments Agreement had been signed between Nepal and Poland. A new trade agreement was signed between Nepal and Poland on 12 May 1992. The Government of Poland informed Government of Nepal about its decision to renounce the Trade Agreement in view of Poland's accession to the European Union from May 1, 2004 as mentioned by a note from the Embassy of Poland in New Delhi dated 14 November 2003. Areas of economic cooperation between Nepal and Poland remain to be explored in view of the Poland's accession to the European Union.
So, remains the cultural and academic relations that have vast potential to be explored as yet.
The Nepal-Poland Friendship Association under the leadership of its founding Chairman, Mr. N.P. Upadhyaya remains still vibrant to provide a real shape to the Nepal-Poland ties that have ever remained a friendlier one.
In the meantime, the Founder Chairman of the Nepal-Poland Friendship Association was awarded a Polish medal “Distinguished for Polish Culture” as back as in the mid-eighties.
The then, Polish Ambassador of Nepal H.E. Ryszard Fijalkowski was kind enough to come to Kathmandu to decorate the Chairman of Nepal-Poland Friendship Association with the Polish medal which was first ever to be awarded to a Nepali National, in the entire Asia-Pacific region.
The NPFA hopes that the new Ambassador H.E. Professor Piotr Klodkowski will look into the matter seriously and encourage the NPFA to achieve its declared goals which are just to expand Nepal-Poland relations.
Few Nepalese students have studied in Poland under the Polish scholarship programme. There are some Nepalese students in medical field currently studying in Poland under the same programme. Fortunately, some Polish ladies have married the Nepalese nationals and have in their own modest way been contributing to enhance the Nepal-Poland ties.
Now some thing about the Poland as of now.
Poland is a major country in Central Europe in terms of size & population, and its role in Europe for its political and economic transformation. Poland's lead role is well recognized for successful transformation process. The Polish Government has given top priority to reintegrate itself to the Western world primarily, with the NATO and lately with the European Union.
Germany, Russia, USA and EC in general dominate Poland's foreign policy preoccupations. Poland is the member of OECD and NATO. Therefore, the gradual consolidation of Nepal-Poland with frequent consultations visits and exploration of possibilities for commercial interactions should receive our attention in the days ahead.
Lastly, the Nepal-Poland Friendship Association congratulates both Nepal and Poland to have successfully completed the 50th anniversary of their establishment of diplomatic relations.
Credit must go to Andrzej Wawarzyniak, the Chairman of Polish Nepalese Friendship Association, who remained always as a bridge of friendship between Poland and Nepal. (Text Courtesy: Nepal-Poland Friendship Association)
Comments (3)
Congratulations! Great!
i am afraid is this the same upadhyaya who is the chief edigtor of the telegraph weekly and telegraphnepal.com?
please clarify me. i am waiting for reply from the real upadhyaya.
regards.
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The role played by NPFA in enhancing Nepal-Poland Relations is appreciable. The increasing role of organizations like NPFC and Nepal Poland Friendship Council, with deep coordination with MoFA is desirable for the enhancement of relations between two countries, which will truly mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties.