KATHMANDU: The European Union Ambassador to Nepal, Rensje Teerink, met Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Thapa and discussed the EU-India joint statement on Nepal.

Teerink was accompanied by the Deputy Chief of the Mission.* Earlier it was reported that other EU envoys had also accompanied her.

A source at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Thapa had invited the diplomats at the Ministry and asked why the EU agreed to issue a statement against Nepal's Constitution. Teerink clarified on Twitter that she requested the meeting.

@thehimalayan @KTnepal correction: not envoys. It was me and my DCM, I requested the meeting to which the hon. DPM/FM Thapa kindly agreed.

— Rensje Teerink (@RensjeTeerink) April 5, 2016

In the meeting, Teerink reportedly clarified that the European nations were not against Nepal's constitution.

The joint statement issued, after the 13th European Union-India Summit in Brussels last week, had pointed out hte need for “a lasting and inclusive constitutional settlement in Nepal that will address the remaining Constitutional issues in a time bound manner, and promote political stability and economic growth.”

Nepal strongly objected to the reference made by the EU and India over Nepal's constitution. Maintaining the constitution-making was Nepal's internal affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the EU-India joint statement not only hurt the sentiments of the people of Nepal but also defied the fundamental principle of non-interference in internal affairs of a country in breach of UN Charter and norms of international law.

(Corrected)

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