FULL AGENDA AHEAD FOR THE XVITH SAARC SUMMIT AND PRECEDING MEETINGS
1. The XVIth SAARC Summit (28-29th April 2010) will be attended by the Heads of State and Government of all 8 Member States of the Association. The Summit will also be attended by High Level dignitaries representing 9 Observer States. Read more
CONSECRATION OF THE SAARC VILLAGE WITH RAMNEY CEREMONY
1. The SAARC Village, which will accommodate the Heads of State and Government of SAARC Member States during the Summit was consecrated today with a Ramney ceremony performed by His Holiness Gyelsey Trilku Tenzin Rabgye Rinpoche, in the presence of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, Ashi Dorji Wangmo Wangchuck, and attended by the Hon’ble Prime Minister, Lyonchhen Jigmi Y. Thinley, Cabinet Ministers, Read more
MINISTER IN CHARGE FOR FOREIGN AFFAIRS FOR THE SAARC SUMMIT APPOINTED
1. The Hon’ble Foreign Minister, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, has been on leave since 1st April 2010 on personal health grounds, and will be out of the country for medical treatment. Lyonpo Khandu Wangchuk, Hon’ble Minister for Economic Affairs, is serving as Minister in Charge of Foreign Affairs in the interim. Read more
Press Release
Dasho Bap Kesang, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the Maldives, presented his Letter of Credence to His Excellency President Mohamed Nasheed of the Republic of Maldives in Male on 04 March 2010 at a ceremony held at the President’s Office. Read more
Bhutan’s UPR report to be considered by the UN Human Rights Council in march 2010
THE MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE REPORT ON THE REVIEW OF THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION IN BHUTAN, ADOPTED BY THE UN WORKING GROUP FOR UNIVERSAL PERIODIC REVIEW IN DECEMBER 2009, WILL BE CONSIDERED BY THE UNITED NATIONS HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL IN GENEVA ON 18TH MARCH 2010. Read more
Press Release
H.E. Dasho Yeshey Dorji, Kutshab, Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations, Geneva presented his credentials to His Excellency Dr. Heinz Fischer, Federal President of Austria on 11th January 2010. Kutshab, Geneva is concurrently accredited to Vienna, Austria. Read more
Press Release
Major General Vetsop Namgyel, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Kingdom of Bhutan to the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, presented his Letter of Credence to His Excellency Dr. Ram Baran Yadav, President of Nepal, in Kathmandu, Nepal on 13th December, 2009. Read more
Press Release
The Government of the State of Kuwait has made a generous contribution of US$ 3.5 Million Dollars and the Kuwait Red Crescent Society has made a similar contribution of US$ 2 million in assistance towards the reconstruction and rehabilitation costs for damages caused by Cyclone Aila in May 2009 and the Earthquake on 21 September 2009. Read more
Bhutan establishes diplomatic relations with Brazil
(From Left: H.E. Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Foreign Minister of Bhutan and H.E. Mr. Celso Amorim, Minister of External Relations, Brazil)
The Kingdom of Bhutan and the Federative Republic of Brazil, wishing to strengthen and develop friendly relations in the political, economic, cultural and other fields between them have established formal diplomatic relations with effect from 21 September 2009. The Joint Communiqué on the establishment of diplomatic relations was signed between H.E. Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Minister for Foreign Affairs, on behalf of the Royal Government of Bhutan, and H.E. Mr. Celso Amorim, Minister of External Relations, on behalf of the Federative Republic of Brazil, on 21st September 2009, at the Permanent Mission of Brazil in New York. Brazil is the only country in South America with which Bhutan has established diplomatic relations. Read more
Visit by Canada’s Ambassador-designate to Bhutan
H.E. Mr. Joseph Caron, Ambassador-designate of Canada to Bhutan, will arrive in Bhutan on 10th August 2009. He will present his credentials to His Majesty the King tomorrow at the Tashichhodzong. Mr. Caron succeeds Mr. David M. Malone who was Canada’s Ambassador to Bhutan from August 2006 to 2008.
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Foreign Minister meets with US Lawmakers in Washington DC
Following the presentation of Bhutan’s 7th Periodic Report to the CEDAW Committee at the UN Headquarters in New York, H.E. Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Minister for Foreign Affairs, visited Washington DC from 27 to 28 July 2009 to meet with senior US lawmakers and well-wishers of Bhutan. The visit was made in response to an invitation extended to Lyonpo by Congressional delegations visiting Bhutan. Lyonpo was accompanied by Ambassador Lhatu Wangchuk of the Permanent Mission of Bhutan to the United Nations in New York.
Bhutan Presents its 7th Periodic Report to the CEDAW Committee
The Bhutanese Delegation led by Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, Minister for Foreign Affairs, successfully presented its 7th Periodic Report to the Forty-fourth session of the Committee on the Convention on Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York on 23rd July 2009.
Bhutan’s Ambassador to Belgium presents credentials
H. E. Sonam Tobden Rabgye presented his credentials to His Majesty King Albert II, King of the Belgians, at Laeken Castle in Brussels on 14 July 2009.
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Foreign Minister to lead Bhutanese delegation to 15th NAM Summit and to present Bhutan’s 7th Periodic Report to CEDAW
The Foreign Minister, Lyonpo Ugyen Tshering, will be leading the Bhutanese delegation to the 15th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) that will be held in the Egyptian city of Sharm-El-Sheikh from 15th – 16th July 2009. He will be accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The theme of the 15th Summit is on International Solidarity for Peace and Development. The Summit will also discuss the current global economic and financial crisis.
Tourist visa fee exemption in Thailand
The Royal Thai Government has informed that all foreigners who apply for tourist visa (including medical treatment category) at the Royal Thai Embassies and Royal Thai Consulates-General worldwide will be exempted from tourist visa fees from 25 June to 4 March 2010. However, visa fees for Non-Immigrant and Transit visas are not exempted during the above period.
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