The Parliamentary State Secretary to the German Minister for Economic Cooperation and Development Mrs. Gudrun Kopp visited Nepal from March 4 to 7, 2012.
The main purpose of her visit was the exchange of views on the peace and constitution drafting process in Nepal. She met with Prime Minister Bhattarai, Finance Minister Pun, Peace and Reconstruction Minister Pahadi, and representatives of human rights organizations. "With a stable democratic constitution and a well functioning local administration vital preconditions to improve the living conditions of the people of Nepal can be created", she said. In view of the debate about a blanket amnesty, Mrs. Kopp called for the investigation of severe human rights violations committed by both sides during the ten year conflict. These cases should be dealt with in accordance with international law.
In Shaktikhor cantonment in Chitwan she met with former Maoist combatants.
Joachim Gauck was elected as the new head of state of the Federal Republic of Germany on March 18, 2012 in Berlin with one of the best results in the history of the country’s federal presidential elections. Gauck received 991 of the 1,228 valid votes. An overwhelming majority of the electors in the 15th Federal Assembly chose Joachim Gauck for the highest office in the land during the first round of voting.
Germany’s new President Joachim Gauck
Eco-friendly solar power for the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre
On 4th January 2012, German Ambassador Gräfin von Roedern inaugurated the solar power system at the Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre (SIRC) in Kavre. The German Embassy financed the environmentally friendly solar energy system with NRs. 14.7 lakhs from its small scale funding programme. The solar voltaic system will not only help overcome the continuing power outages and provide best possible service to patients but also reduce electricity bills and fuel costs for back-up generators. The savings will enable the centre to provide charity to more patients, many of them subsistence farmers injured during their daily labour on hills and trees.
The non-profit SIRC was founded in 2002 as the first rehabilitation centre for spinal injuries in Nepal. Since then, over 900 patients from all districts of Nepal have been been treated. Besides physical rehabilitation, the centre offers vocational training and counselling in order to improve the reintegration of spinally injured into society.
Spinal Injury Rehabilitation Centre Nepal
Germany supports Nepal Peace Trust Fund
The German Goverment, through KfW Development Bank, has agreed to provide an additional grant assistance of 2 million Euro (about 2.2 crore Nepalese Rupees) to the Government of Nepal as a further contribution to the Nepal Peace Trust Fund. An agreement to this effect was signed on December 6, 2011 at Singhadurbar, Kathmandu. In joint collaboration with other development partners, Germany has place its role in supporting Nepal's peace process for several years now. The 2 million Euro is the second contribution provided under German Financial Cooperation for the Nepal Peace Trust Fund under the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.
German Embassy
