Kathmandu, September 22, 2005

Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala’s bid to nominate a deputy president has triggered ripples in the party. Party leaders have warned of a setback to the party if anybody, who has expressed resentment towards the ongoing movement of the alliance, was nominated to the post. Koirala is believed to be picking a transitional leadership soon after the completion of the party’s 11th general convention, party insiders conceded. The party president, during the last central working committee (CWC) meeting, had even indicated appointing his immediate subordinate to “look after the party” during his absence. “It is true that Girijababu had said that somebody should be there to take charge during his absence,” said the newly-appointed party spokesperson Dr Ram Sharan Mahat. An NC source conceded that efforts to hoist Shailja Acharya into the chair post of deputy president are being made insidethe party. Former party spokesperson Arjun Narsingh KC, however, declined to comment, saying that as the party statute gave Koirala the right and privilege to nominate anyone to the post he said he would “fully abide by the party president’s decision and cooperate with whoever was named deputy president”. KC hastened to add, “I expect others also to abide by and practice the party statute.”

Nepal player in world carbon trade, courtesy Kyoto Protocol

Kathmandu, September 22, 2005

Thanks to the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol, Nepal has entered the world “market” of carbon trading, where it can reap the benefits of promoting eco-friendly fuels and contribute to reducing the greenhouse gas effects in the world. Nepal, which remained the only country in the South Asia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol, finally submitted the necessary documents for the ratification last week. The Kyoto Protocol, an international agreement setting targets for industrialised countries to cut down on their greenhouse gas emissions comes into force from February 16, has been so far ratified by over 140 countries. Nepal deposited with the UN the Instrument of Accession at a function organised during the Treaty Event at the UN headquarters last Friday. The process of recognition generally takes three months to complete. “We have recently become suitable sellers of carbon in the world market,” said Joint-Secretary at Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, Lok Darshan Regmi, today. He said, After ratifying the Protocol, Nepal will get many doors opened to it for dealing with the world against the contribution we have made so far in the area of controlling emission of carbon dioxide and other gases.” But to be a eligible candidate selling carbon credit, that is selling the due of reducing greenhouse gases.