Ambassador Appointments Delayed Amidst Ministry Disagreements
Kathmandu. Although the Ministry of Foreign Affairs sent names for the appointment of 13 ambassadors to the Prime Minister's Office, appointments have not been made yet. Some time ago, the ministry had also sent the names of ambassadors to be appointed from among the foreign ministry's employees to the Prime Minister's Office. They have not been appointed yet.
According to an official of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, although the ministry is quickly sending names, the delay in ambassador appointments is due to the Prime Minister's Office not advancing the process. The official stated that the lack of ambassadors in various countries is hindering the improvement of diplomatic relations, and it is beginning to feel like the Prime Minister's Office is not cooperating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Sources indicate that the ministry has sent the names of five individuals to be appointed as ambassadors from among the foreign service employees. The tenure of seven other individuals appointed as ambassadors from the foreign service is ending in August. Despite the need to start the process for appointing ambassadors to these countries, the ministry's sources state that appointments have not been made for months in vacant positions.
A dispute arose between the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from the very beginning of the contract process related to passport printing. Prime Minister Balen Shah wanted to break the contract with the German company and give it to another. For this, the Prime Minister's Secretariat held discussions with the Foreign Minister multiple times, but Foreign Minister Shishir Khanal maintained his stance that the contract with the German company should not be terminated. Foreign Minister Khanal's clear stance was that the contract period was still valid, and only if the work was not done within that period would they consider another option.
However, Prime Minister Balen's secretariat argued that since a case was pending in the special court regarding the German company and it had already become controversial, it should be canceled and awarded to another, but the Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not agree. Sources say that the distance between the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been increasing since then. They have been halting ambassador appointments as well as other work.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has repeatedly corrected statements made by Prime Minister Balen on international relations. Efforts to arrange meetings between visiting high-level foreign delegates and the Prime Minister have also failed.
Ministry employees state that coordination issues between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Prime Minister's Office on international affairs have created difficulties. Foreign Minister Khanal has returned from visits to India and China with various agreements and understandings. Sources say that the Prime Minister's Office is not positive about these either.
Foreign Minister Khanal, however, claims that the distance between the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has not increased. He stated that dialogue is ongoing between the Prime Minister's Office and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as needed.
This specific news has been automatically translated by AI. As a result, there may be some inaccuracies or language errors.
