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Dr Chalise calls on the British Defense Minister
July 30, 2010
Dr Suresh C. Chalise, ambassador of Nepal to the UK, called on Andrew Robathan, British Minister for Defence Personnel, Welfare and Veterans at the latter’s office in Ministry of Defence (MOD), Whitehall on Wednesday. During the meeting Dr. Chalise congratulated Robathan on assuming new responsibilities. They briefly shared their views on the UK-Nepal military relations and role of Gurkhas in the British Armed Forces.
During the meeting, Dr. Chalise said that the Gurkhas had been the corner stone of the bilateral relations between Nepal and the UK. Minister for defence Robathan and ambassador Chalise also discussed about current political situation in Nepal and on-going peace process. Ambassador Chalise expressed his confidence that Nepal would be able to promulgate a new constitution and conclude the peace process within a year.
In another context, the minister for defence assured the ambassador that his office would make utmost efforts to see the British Prime Minister visiting Nepal in future. It must be noted here that ever since the establishment of diplomatic relations were established in 1934, no British Prime Minister has visited Nepal.
Also present on the occasion were Assistant Director, Land Forces Secretariat, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO), Ms Margaret Gilmour, Head of International planning and Policy, Military Air Commodore Clive Bairsto, Desk Officer, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the Maldives at the FCO, Robert Musk, Defence Intelligence Staff Asia Paul Engeham, Military Assistant to the Minister and Military Attaché at the Nepali embassy Colonel Gyanendra Jung Rayamajhi.
There has been a tradition of conferring the decor of Colonel Commandant of Brigade of Gurkhas to one of the senior Generals in British army. Currently, Chief of the General Staff Sir David Richards has been decorated with this prestigious honour.
Traditionally the Colonel Commandant of the Gurkha submits report to the Head of the Nepalese government annually.
Source: nepalnews
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