Kathmandu, 5 Sep: Prime Minister Balendra Shah is set to travel to the United States to participate in the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly. Minister for Information and Communications Dr. Bikram Timilsina said Prime Minister Shah will lead the Nepali delegation to the UN General Assembly. According to him, discussions and consultations are being held at various levels to formulate Nepal’s position to be presented at the General Assembly.
Prime Minister Shah’s first high-level foreign visit will be to the United States. He will address the General Assembly representing Nepal at the UN headquarters in New York. The Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Information and Communications, Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, and other ministries are working on preparing the draft of his address.
On Bhadra 10, a large mass of rock fell from Mount Langtang Lirung, triggering a devastating glacial flood that entered Nepal through the Bhotekoshi River. The glacial flood caused extensive destruction in Rasuwa, Nuwakot, Dhading and Chitwan, including areas along the Nepal-China border. Preliminary preparations are underway for Prime Minister Shah to present factual evidence at the General Assembly on the difficult situation Nepal is currently facing due to the severe impacts of climate change.
The Prime Minister’s Office has already held several rounds of discussions with experts and scientists in Nepal and abroad regarding the issues that should be raised during the prime ministerial-level visit. The government is currently analyzing the human and physical losses caused by the disaster. The Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Foreign Affairs are jointly working on a report containing data analysis and an assessment of the damage. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has also begun preparations for the prime minister’s itinerary.
Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal will also accompany Prime Minister Shah on the high-level visit. Accordingly, two days ago, the Foreign Minister held extensive discussions with representatives of diplomatic missions based in Nepal on the issue of climate justice and the need to raise Nepal’s suffering at the global forum.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment has begun preliminary preparations after consulting climate experts and scientists. The ministry said comprehensive preparations would move forward after Minister Geeta Chaudhary returns home on Saturday.
Following the heavy loss of life and property caused by the Bhotekoshi glacial flood, global attention has been focused on Nepal. At such a time, a group of experts has been suggesting that Prime Minister Shah should participate in the UN General Assembly, which is regarded as a major global platform. Earlier, the Cabinet had decided that Foreign Minister Khanal would participate in the UN General Assembly.
Preparations for the General Assembly
The United Nations General Assembly is the principal policy-making organ of the global organization. By bringing all member states together in one forum, the General Assembly provides a global platform for multilateral discussions on international issues covered by the UN Charter. Each of the 193 UN member states has an equal vote in the General Assembly.
Preparations are underway for the grand opening of the 81st General Assembly, which will be held this year on September 8. The agenda has been set for various sessions to discuss pressing global issues and review progress made so far. Nepal’s glacial flood disaster and the issue of protecting the Himalayas are expected to receive attention.
South Asia will lead the opening session this year. Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Khalilur Rahman is scheduled to preside over the opening.
The General Assembly will run from September 8 to September 28, and preparations for the opening and other sessions have been intensified, according to the organizing committee. The General Debate is scheduled to take place from September 22 to September 26.
