Kathmandu, July 25

US Ambassador to Nepal Alaina B Teplitz paid a farewell call on Minister of Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar today.

The talks dwelt on bilateral relations between Nepal and the US, mutual collaboration and cooperation, said the MoHA. Minister Thapa thanked Teplitz, who is preparing to return home after completing her tenure, for her contribution to strengthen Nepal-US relations. He also praised the assistance being extended to Nepal by the US in training and physical infrastructure development of security agencies, and hoped for continuity of assistance even in the days ahead.

According to MoHA, Tepliz told Minister Thapa that she was leaving Nepal for home after 13 days and thanked him for the positive support she got from the Government of Nepal during her tenure. On the occasion, Teplitz said that the US government was interested in providing  assistance to Nepal for immigration security and urged the MoHA to review visa fee being charged by Nepal to US citizens.

In reply, Minister Thapa informed that the government was studying the matter and would take necessary decision accordingly. The US ambassador and home minister also discussed issues of human trafficking, and the management of Bhutanese and Tibetan refugees, the MoHA informed.