REMEMBERING LATE KING BIRENDRA AND HIS PROPOSAL OF DECLARING NEPAL - ZONE OF PEACE

NEPAL-ZONE OF PEACE

NEPAL-Zone of Peace (ZoP) was a proposition made by Late King Birendra during his coronation ceremony in 1975. His Majesty had formally asked the international community to endorse his proposal that the United Nations should declare Nepal a ZoP, so as to give a new dimension to the Nepalese non-alignment. More than 130 countries had accepted and endorsed “Nepal –Zone of Peace”. However, our southern neighbour never felt comfortable to endorse this proposal because of its hostile political thinking towards its neighbours.

The seven-point definition declaring Nepal a Zone of Peace included:

1. Nepal will adhere to the policy of peace, non-alignment and peaceful co-existence and will constantly endeavor to develop friendly relations with all countries of the world regardless of their social and political systems and particularly with its neighbors on the basis of equality and respect for each other’s independence and sovereignty.

2. Nepal will be seeking peaceful settlement of all disputes between itself and any other state or states.

3. Nepal will not resort to use or threat of use of force in any way, which might endanger the peace and security of other countries.

4. Nepal will not interfere in the internal affairs of other states.

5. Nepal will not permit activities on its soil that are hostile to other states supporting this proposal and in reciprocity with other states supporting this proposal will not permit any activities hostile to Nepal.

6. Nepal will continue to honor the obligations of all the existing treaties which it has concluded with other countries as long as they remain valid.

7. In conformity with its policy of peace and non-alignment Nepal will not enter into military alliance nor will it allow the establishment of any foreign military base on its soil. In reciprocity, other countries supporting this proposal will not enter into military alliance nor will they allow establishment of military bases in their soil directed against Nepal.

Whoever betrayed and decided to drop this noble proposal as proposed by Late King Birendra should have realized its importance now? 

YouTube Source: Late King Birendra thanking the then USA President Ronald Regan for accepting his proposal of Nepal- A Zone of Peace