Kathmandu, July 31

Ambassador or Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Durga Prasad Bhattarai left New York for Kathmandu upon completion of his tour of duty effective today.

In the last three weeks of his tenure, Bhattarai paid farewell calls on the President of the 72nd session of UN General Assembly Miroslav Lajčák; Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammad,   among others.

Speaking to the Permanent Mission family before leaving the Mission, Ambassador Bhattarai expressed satisfaction with what could be done in representing and promoting Nepal in the international community over the five years, and also in contributing to the work of the UN System on behalf of Nepal, and encouraged them to excel the high bar of performance that is in place now.

In the past five years, Nepal was privileged to serve as Acting/Vice President of the UN General Assembly, Vice President of the UNDP/UNFPA and UNICEF Executive Boards. Nepal also chaired the GA’s main committees responsible for Peacekeeping Operations (2014), administration and budget.

Currently the sixth largest troops and police contributor to UN peacekeeping, Nepal also chaired the Working Group on Contingent-Owned Equipment. Nepal was elected to UN Human Rights Council in 2017 for 2018-2020, and is also represented at CEDAW Committee since 2015, said a press release issued by the permanent mission.

With efforts in keeping with the spirit of universalising Nepal’s bilateral relations as the foundation for working together bilaterally as well as at multilateral forums, the number of countries with which Nepal has established formal diplomatic ties has risen from 140 before 2015 to 161 at present, all related instruments being concluded in New York.

Until the arrival of Ambassador Bhattarai’s successor, Deputy Permanent Representative Nirmal Raj Kafle will lead the Permanent Mission as Chargé d’Affaires, it informed.