Kathmandu, July 13:

Minister for Foreign Affairs Sahana Pradhan has said the government of Nepal will open an embassy in Israel very soon. She made the announcement in her meeting with Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Tzipi Livni today.

Pradhan is on an official visit to Israel. This is the first visit of the Nepali Foreign Minister to Israel since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1960.

Pradhan also met the president of Israel, Shimon Peres, and greeted him formally on behalf of PM GP Koirala, for being elected president.

Livni appreciated the peace process in Nepal and said that opening of a Nepali embassy in Israel will strengthen Nepal-Israel relations. Livni also expressed Israel’s desire to cooperate in various fields of priority for Nepal.

The two ministers also discussed the issue of Nepali workers in Israel and took note of the need to reach a pact that will regulate the employment of Nepalis in

Israel. They agreed to form a permanent mechanism for consultation between the two Foreign Ministries. Pradhan also visited Cairo as part of an official visit to Egypt at the invitation of Ahmed Aboul Gheit, Egypt’s Minister for Foreign Affairs.