KATHMANDU, Sept 24: Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has called on the international community to assist in the safe release of Nepali youth Bipin Joshi. While addressing the ministerial meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement in New York on Monday, Rana requested the global community to take action for Joshi’s release.
Minister Rana stated that Nepalis are eagerly awaiting Joshi's safe return. Last October, Hamas attacked Israel, killing many including 10 Nepalis and abducting Joshi.
On the occasion, Minister Rana mentioned that the Nepal government has condemned the attack and has been demanding Joshi’s safe release. During her address, she also emphasized the need for collective efforts to establish peace in the world.
She highlighted that wars, rebellions, and acts of violence continue to occur in various parts of the world under different names and pretexts, making it imperative for the global community to take collective action to end violence and establish peace.
“I believe that conflicts have escalated in many parts of the world since World War II. Therefore, we stand at a very complex juncture in history, and it has become crucial to prioritize the protection of civilians from armed conflict,” she said.
Minister Rana pointed out that despite continuous conflicts around the world, nations have failed to stop such wars, find solutions to the problems caused by these conflicts, and maintain peace and order among citizens.
“We are now at the 75th anniversary of the Geneva Conventions, yet we are ignoring or misinterpreting the principles they embody for the protection of civilians. This situation must end soon, and we must all move forward with peaceful coexistence,” she said in her address.
Foreign Minister Rana expressed that the death toll in Gaza is heartbreaking, and the suffering of civilians in the Russia-Ukraine war is similarly distressing. She called for an immediate halt to such violent actions and urged the finding of peaceful solutions to these problems. She stressed that such actions do not bring justice to anyone, and everyone should be aware of this fact.
“Nepal condemns the killing of civilians, journalists, UN employees, health workers, and all ordinary citizens in Gaza, as well as the attacks on infrastructure,” she said, “The destruction of hospitals, private homes, schools, etc, has forced people to live in fear and terror, and such actions must be stopped immediately.”
Minister Rana also requested the international community to seek constructive solutions to conflicts, whether between Israel and Palestine, Russia and Ukraine, or other similar situations, and to exert pressure to end violence.
