-Sundar Nath Bhattarai
The Association of Former Career Ambassadors of Nepal (AFCAN) came into being in 2007.
The objectives of AFCAN, as enumerated in its constitution, are, among others, to contribute to the promotion of Nepal’s national and international interests in accordance with the country’s independent foreign policy of non-alignment, in adherence to the principles of peaceful co-existence and ideals and principles enshrined in the Charter of the United Nations, by maintaining the policy of friendship with all and enmity towards none, as pursued by the Government of Nepal.
It aims at promoting studies, researches, interactions and dialogues within the Association and outside, providing independent institutional views and advices to the competent authorities of the Government of Nepal on matters of foreign relations, which might, in particular, be helpful in policy formulation and execution.
It may be pertinent to recall here an effort made by a group of our colleagues to form an institution of former ambassadors as back as in December 1999 which was initiated with the participation of foreign affairs stalwarts and former ambassadors like Prof. Yadunath Khanal, Mr. Kul Shekhar Sharma, Mr. Praddhumna Lal Rajbhandari, General Kshetra Bikram Rana, Mr. Jharendra Narayan Singh, Dr. Yadav Prasad Pant, Mr. Shailedra Kumar Upadhyay, Mr. Jagdish Shumsher JB Rana, Mr. Narayan Prasad Aryal and others.
They had established an institution known as “Ambassadors’ Club” and had also framed its constitution. The Club was registered with the relevant office of then His Majesty’s Government of Nepal on Mangsir 22, 2056 BS and was headed by former ambassador to Egypt, Late Mr. Jitendra Raj Sharma as its President. Mr. Surya Prasad Shrestha, former ambassador to the United Kingdom, was the Vice President and Mr.
Sundar Nath Bhattarai, the undersigned, became the Secretary General.
The “Ambassadors’ Club” was open to membership to all those appointed as Ambassadors, irrespective of their allegiance with the foreign service.
The Club, so purposefully created, could not have a smooth sailing for a long time mainly due to a great deal of uncoordinated diverse views and lack of unified approach among the members on vital policy objectives, methods and scope of the institution which caused loss of enthusiasm of many of the active stalwarts. As a result, it ceased to be functional.
A group of former career ambassadors, however, took a new initiative towards the establishment of an association of former ambassadors of Nepal. After repeated interactions and continuous dialogue regarding the nature, form, and scope of the conceived institution, they decided to establish the association in its present form.
In view of its relevance and the compatibility of its purposes and objectives with those of the Government of Nepal, the association was registered with the Government of Nepal. The membership of the Association, as signified by its very name, is confined and limited to the Nepali ambassadors appointed from among the professionals serving in the Foreign Ministry and having served in different diplomatic capacities in various missions abroad.
AFCAN, after its inception in its new form in 2007, has been effortful in playing effective role in compliance with the objectives set forth in its constitution, working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through occasional consultations on matters of importance on foreign relations. During the span of 13 years after its existence, AFCAN is in record of having organized several workshops and seminars on matters of topical importance like Foreign Direct Investment, External Trade, Foreign Employment and “tourism relating to the policy of economic diplomacy pursued by the Government of Nepal, and follow-up interactions with experts in specific fields.
The reports of the seminars which were published and circulated were highly acclaimed. Similarly, two seminars consecutively organized in collaboration with the office of European Union in Kathmandu on Nepal-EU cooperation, first under the stewardship of Mr. Kedar Bhakta Shrestha, former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to Benelux countries and the EU, and to the United States, and secondly, that of Mr. Madhu Raman Acharya, former Foreign Secretary and Ambassador to Bangladesh and PR to the United Nations, were accorded high importance.
Their reports were also widely circulated and appreciated by the readers.
Another report of a very important seminar organized by AFCAN on Nepal’s water resources with participation of learned scholars and well recognized experts in the field, which came out with various important and useful recommendations, is also being published in the near future for dissemination.
AFCAN has also been organizing interaction programmes with Nepalese and foreign scholars and dignitaries. One very popular among them is with foreign Ambassadors resident in Kathmandu for exchange of views on matters of bilateral and ongoing relevant international issues.
The event became popularly known as “AFCAN Breakfast Roundtable”, which was attended with great interest by almost all foreign resident ambassadors in Nepal, some having attended it in repetition.
Important suggestions from ambassadors were duly conveyed, depending upon their consent, to appropriate authorities of the government for necessary consideration and action. Similarly, interactions with newly appointed Nepalese ambassadors preparing to take up their assignments in foreign countries were considered to be immensely useful.
Among several others, interactions with the Chairman and members of Indo-Nepal Eminent Persons Group (EPG), constitutional experts and experts on federalism also proved to be of high value and importance.
Having been aware of its own unique character and high relevance on matters of foreign relations, AFCAN is of the view that any institution/s or Think Tanks on foreign relations, which would come into being, may facilitate in-depth studies, researches, exchange of views and discourses in wider perspectives and outlook.
AFCAN looks forward to pursuing its objectives, while underlying particular individual nature and identity of such institutions.
AFCAN, during the period of its existence, had to bear some tragic events in the untimely demise of three of its active AFCAN looks forward to presidents, Mr. Prabal Shumsher JB Rana, former Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Mr. Keshav Raj Jha, former Ambassador to France, and lately Mr. Pushker Man Singh Rajbhandari, former Ambassador to Pakistan, which were preceded by the sad demise of two of our other colleagues, Mr. P. Khatiwada, former Ambassador to Bangladesh, and Dr.
Singha Bahadur Basnyat, former Ambassador to the United Kingdom, which were irreparable loss to AFCAN and to the country.
The members of AFCAN pay their high tribute and respectful homage to all of them and wish for eternal peace of the departed souls.
The publication of the present Review by AFCAN, as we know, contains articles contributed by the members of AFCAN which reflect their personal views on various aspects of foreign relations.
In its future issues, however, AFCAN envisages to broaden its scope to accommodate the views of greater number of foreign policy advocates from outside the Association as well.
Last but not the least, I would like to avail myself of this opportunity to express my wholehearted appreciation to the members of the Editorial Board for so painstakingly and meticulously contributing to bring out the first ever issue of AFCAN Review in such candid form.
In view of the effective role that AFCAN has been playing and is endeavoring to play in contributing to the amelioration of Nepal’s standing in the domain of foreign relations, it could resolutely be affirmed that AFCAN, with its inherent singular and homogeneous character of an institution, composed of members with long and relevant practical experiences working in the Foreign Ministry and Missions abroad, along with their continued zeal and dedication, could be able to carrying it forward in accomplishing its desired objectives more effectively in the days to come.
Text courtesy: Association of the Former Career Ambassadors of Nepal (AFCAN) Review, Volume 1, 2020: Ed.