Kathmandu, November 24

A visiting European Union delegation has termed the promulgation of the new constitution as a historic event marking the beginning of a new democratic era for Nepal.

Acting Managing Director for Asia and Pacific of the European External Action Service Ugo Astuto said this while meeting with Nepali authorities today.

Astuto was in Nepal leading a EU delegation for the 9th biennial EU-Nepal Joint Commission meeting, which concluded here in Kathmandu today .

“The delegation of the European Union reiterated its view that the promulgation of the new constitution is a historic event marking the beginning of a new democratic era in Nepal,” according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA).

The Nepali delegation was led by Foreign Secretary Shanker Das Bairagi.

During the meeting, the two delegations shared views on important regional and global issues, including the recent disruption of essential supplies from India to Nepal.

The EU team is learnt to have expressed concern about the disruption of supplies as it has created severe humanitarian problems in Nepal, according to a MoFA official.

MoFA said that the two sides exchanged views on post-earthquake reconstruction and European Union assisted development programmes in Nepal, including future priorities.

They also exchanged views on trade and investment, human rights, refugee issues as well as global issues like Post-15 Development Agenda and international climate change negotiations, according to the statement.

The Development Sub-Commission meeting between Nepal and the European Union, which took place yesterday at the Ministry of Finance, had held extensive discussions on European Union assisted development programmes and its future priorities in Nepal.

Astuto also paid a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa at the latter’s office in Singha Durbar later today, where various issues of bilateral interest were discussed.