Upon the completion of his tour of duty effective today (31 July 2018), His Excellency Durga Prasad Bhattarai, Ambassador/Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations left New York for Kathmandu this morning.
Ambassador Bhattarai and his spouse Mrs. Muna Bhattarai were seen off at the John F Kennedy Airport by Minister Plenipotentiary and Deputy Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations, Mr. Nirmal Raj Kafle, and other members of the Permanent Mission family.
In the last three weeks of his tenure, Ambassador Bhattarai paid farewell calls on the President of the 72nd session of UN General Assembly Mr. Miroslav Lajčák; Secretary-General Mr. Antonio Guterres; Deputy Secretary-General Ms. Amina Mohammad, Chef de Cabinet Ms. Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti as well as the Under-Secretaries-General for Economic and Social Affairs, Peacekeeping Operations, Field Support, General Assembly Affairs, Political Affairs and LDCs, LLDCs and SIDS, among others.
He also had farewell meetings with his counterparts from Nepal’s immediate and regional neighbourhood, NAM Chair (Venezuela), G77 Chair (Egypt), LDCs Chair (Bangladesh) and development partners.
During these meetings, he thanked the dignitaries for their continuing understanding, support and cooperation for Nepal’s peace and development as well as their friendship and trust enabling him to take several leadership roles while in New York. Ambassador Bhattarai also expressed the confidence that his successor will be privileged to enjoy the same courtesy and support as he enjoyed.
Speaking to the Permanent Mission family before leaving the Mission, Ambassador Bhattarai expressed satisfaction over what could be done in representing and promoting Nepal in the international community over the five years, and also in contributing to the work of the UN System on behalf of Nepal, and encouraged them to excel the high bar of performance that is in place now.
In the past five years, Nepal was privileged to serve as Acting/Vice President of the UN General Assembly (2017), Vice President of the UNDP/UNFPA (2015) and UNICEF (2016 and 2018) Executive Boards. Nepal also chaired the GA’s main Committees responsible for Peacekeeping Operations (2014) and Administration and Budget (2015). Currently the sixth largest troops and police contributor to UN peacekeeping, Nepal also chaired the Working Group on Contingent-Owned Equipment (2017). Nepal was elected to UN Human Rights Council in 2017 for 2018-2020, and is also represented at CEDAW Committee since 2015.
With efforts in keeping with the spirit of universalizing Nepal’s bilateral relations as the foundation for working together bilaterally as well as at multilateral forums, the number of countries with which Nepal has established formal diplomatic ties has risen from 140 before 2015 to 161 at present, all related instruments being concluded in New York
Ambassador Bhattarai also attended a few official farewell events hosted by his counterparts as well as by the International Association of the Permanent Representatives which comprises current and former Ambassador/Permanent Representatives accredited to the UN.
Until the arrival of Ambassador Bhattarai’s successor, Deputy Permanent Representative Mr. Nirmal Raj Kafle will lead the Permanent Mission as Chargé d’Affaires, a.i.