During the talks, the two governments reviewed the progress of the implementation of GoI assisted projects in Bhutan in the 10th Plan which includes a three-tier aid programe of Nu 20,000 million for Project-Tied Assistance (PTA), Nu 7000 million for Small Development Projects (SDP) and Nu 7000 million as Program Grant. So far the GoI has released Nu. 7308.752 million under the PTA, Nu. 393.900 million under the SDP and Nu. 3150 million under the Program Grant. Both sides expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the implementation of the Project under the PTA and SDP.

The Talks was held in a most candid and friendly environment in keeping with the spirit of the long standing friendly relations between the two countries.  Mr. Daw Penjo called on his counterpart, Mrs. Nirupama Rao, the Indian Foreign Secretary on 31 August 2010 and discussed may issues of mutual interests.
Asia Division

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The bilateral consultations are held annually to renew and strengthen the bilateral and economic cooperation between the two countries and also provide a forum to review progress of the ongoing projects. Formal diplomatic relations between Bhutan and Japan was established on 28 March 1986.

Mr. Thinley Penjor, leader of the RGOB delegation also made a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Masashi Mizukami, *Chargé d’affaires*, Embassy of Japan.”

Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Royal Government of Bhutan
Thimphu
12 August 2010

Lyonpo said that “as non traditional security threats continue to grow in complexity, the primacy of dialogue and cooperation for an effective regional approach becomes more imperative. We have the legal basis in the six SAARC Conventions before us, which embody the common will of our peoples for a more secure future. These instruments are also a demonstration of the collective political will of our governments to address common challenges in resolute fashion through genuine partnership. South Asia must renew its efforts to form a coherent and collaborative response to the region’s complex security risks. “

The SAARC Ministers of Home/Interior adopted the Islamabad SAARC Ministerial Statement on Cooperation against Terrorism, which reiterates the resolve of the region to strengthen the SAARC regime against terrorism, affirms the region’s commitment to further strengthen cooperation to fight and eradicate terrorism in all its forms and manifestations through coordinated and concerted response.

The Ministers unanimously welcomed Bhutan’s offer to host the Fourth Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Home/Interior during the term of its Chairmanship of the Association. Dates of the meeting will be communicated at a later date.

While in Islamabad, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji called on H.E. Mr. Asif Ali Zardari, President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, and H.E. Mr. Syed Yousaf Reza Gillani, the Prime Minister . Lyonpo also held discussions with the Home and Interior Ministers of other SAARC Member States.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

The nine member delegation, led by Hon’ble Home Minister, Lyonpo Minjur Dorji. includes the Home Secretary, senior officials of the RBP, Ministry of Home and Cultural Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Bhutan Narcotics Control Board.

The Meetings will be, amongst others, discussing matters relating to challenges posed by terrorism, drug trafficking and trafficking in human beings. They would be reviewing the implementation of the SAARC Regional Convention on Suppression of Terrorism and its Additional Protocol, SAARC Convention on Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances, SAARC Convention on Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters, Colombo Declaration on Combating Terrorism and strengthening the institutional mechanisms of SAARC Terrorist Offences Monitoring Desk (STOMD) and SAARC Drug Offences Monitoring Desk (SDOMD) for accelerating cooperation.

As current Chair of SAARC, Bhutan is committed to supporting and advancing regional cooperation. This is the first SAARC Ministerial level meeting convened since the Thimphu XVIth Summit in April 2010.

The Second Meeting of SAARC Ministers of Interior/Home was held in October 2007 in New Delhi.

MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS, THIMPHU
Date: 24 June 2010

The principal confirmed that there are no Bhutanese students in Kodaikanal Public School and conveyed that the molestation allegation against MR. M L Brite is fabricated to discredit the school following a disagreement on payment of fees.

The guardian of the student confirmed that she is not from Bhutan but a Nepali girl from Jaigon, West Bengal, near the India-Bhutan border. He however, stated that the charges of molestation are true.

22 June 2010

After receiving the five leaders at Paro airport, Lyonchhen met with each leader separately in their respective houses at SAARC village where they discussed, among others, the summit, climate change, harnessing hydropower as an alternative to energy sourced from fossil fuels, bilateral relations and a host of other issues.

Lyonchhen said that the fact that the leaders came to attend the summit in person despite pressing works at home reflected the great importance attached to ensuring the success of the summit. He hoped that the informal setting created by Bhutan would bring the leaders together and closer beyond the official level so that it leads to true friendship, and builds trust and confidence in each other.

On the bilateral front, the scope of expanding and deepening Bhutan’s relations with each these countries at various levels was discussed. With the Bangladeshi Prime Minster, H.E. Sheikh Hasina, the meeting dwelt mainly on improving trading relations, including exploring avenues to create greater access to the Bangladeshi market via India. The two leaders also talked about higher education opportunities for Bhutanese students in Bangladesh, especially in medicine.

Nepalese Prime Minister, H. E. Rt. Hon. Madhav Kumar Nepal, and Lyonchhen Jigmi Y.

Thinley felt that the two countries had much in common that could be used to benefit each other and strengthen the relationship further. Both the countries, they agreed, could play a tremendous role in mitigating climate change effects by harnessing and exporting their huge hydropower potential and providing clean and green energy to the region.

While agreeing that the bilateral discussions regarding the issue on the people in the camps in Nepal must be kept going, the two leaders also decided to quickly take up the need to renew the air services agreement and the bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.

The Pakistani Prime Minster H.E. Syed Yousuf Raza Gilani and Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley felt that the two countries must promote people-to-people contact, especially by further exploring the possibilities of using the birthplace of Guru Padmasambhava in Swat province, Pakistan, to draw Buddhist pilgrims from Bhutan.  Pakistan could also learn from Bhutan in hydro-power development.

President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan said there was much in common between Bhutan and Afghanistan and that he was very much looking forward to visiting the Kingdom. He said Afghanistan was witnessing symptoms of climate change in myriad ways and that it being the theme for the SAARC summit was most appropriate and timely.

The discussions between Lyonchhen and the President of Maldives, H. E. Mr. Mohamed Nasheed, hinged primarily on climate change. They said that Bhutan was as vulnerable to climate change as Maldives and the two will support initiatives intended to combat it. The President of Maldives urged Bhutan to keep up with its hydropower development policy as a means of clean and green energy that can remove the use of fossil fuels in the region. Bhutan plans to host a Climate Change summit in 2011 in Thimphu between the four countries of Bhutan, India, Nepal and Bangladesh and informed the leaders accordingly.

Apart from the SAARC leaders, Lyonchhen met with the leaders of delegation of five observer countries to the SAARC summit. These were delegations from Japan, China, Australia, South Korea and the US.

In discussions with China, both sides attached high importance to their bilateral relations and agreed to continue the close cooperation in the international arena. On the boundary issue, the two sides agreed to let the Experts Group meet to discuss the modalities for joint field verification of the border. Mr. Wang Guangya also stated that they would continue to support and work closely with SAARC.

In discussions with the Republic of Korea, both sides acknowledged the potential for enhancing relations between the two countries through sharing of experiences, trainings and technological know-how in the industrial and agricultural sectors.

Their Excellencies also held discussions on matters of mutual interest. Mr. Wang GuangYa and Mr. Yong-joon Lee both lead their country’s delegations at the 16^th SAARC Summit as Observer States.

27 April 2010

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

26 April 2010
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Dr. Ahmeed Shaheed said that Climate Change was the most appropriate theme for the Summit and the SAARC member countries should form a strategic partnership to combat the negative effects of climate change. He mentioned that the President of Maldives was looking forward to discussing an Asian Climate Initiative.

The two ministers also explored ways to forge closer ties between Bhutan and Maldives in the areas of economic development, discussed challenges of graduation of the two countries from LDC status and shared experiences of democratic changes that the two countries underwent recently.

Dr Shaheed commended the philosophy of GNH and expressed the need to introduce such values in the Maldives.

Dr Shaheed arrived in the country on 26 April 2010 to attend the Thirty Second Session of the SAARC Council of Ministers leading to the Sixteenth SAARC Summit.

26 April 2010
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

The two Leaders discussed the importance of increasing cultural tourism between the two countries considering the shared Buddhist values and cultures. Lyonchhen Thinley informed the visiting President of his intention to propose to the SAARC Community to consider the possibility of studying Bhutan’s development philosophy of Gross National Happiness as an alternative development paradigm. It was proposed that an intergovernmental meeting could examine this.

Lyonchhen congratulated President Rajapaksa for a successful stewardship of SAARC and his recent electoral victory. The two Leaders also held discussions on a wide range of issues of mutual interest.

Following this H.E. Professor Gamini Lakshman Peiris, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Sri Lanka met with his Bhutanese counterpart, H.E. Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs. Lyonpo Khandu congratulated Professor Peiris for his most recent appointment as Minister of Foreign Affairs which he just assumed on 23rd April 2010.

Professor Peiris applauded Bhutan’s meticulous preparations made and stated that Bhutan was a particularly attractive venue for the event for numerous reasons, such as its status as one of the youngest democracies in the world today and the widely acclaimed development philosophy of Gross National Happiness. Lyonpo Khandu thanked the Sri Lankan Government for accomodating Bhutanese students over the years for medical studies and the long standing cooperation in human resources development. The two Ministers also discussed possible areas of future cooperation in the field of hospitality and tourism, and exchange of visits by members of parliament between the two countries.

26 April 2010
Ministry of Foreign Affairs