Posted on 21 May | 8.30AM NST
Nepali Times: What is your assessment of
the recent political changes in Nepal?
Lucie
Edwards: We thought Thursday was a very special day. In many ways the
proclamation closed a very difficult chapter for the fight for democracy but
also opened another chapter for a new Nepal that would be based on a new system
of parliamentary government and the process for negotiation of peace. It was a
very exciting historic moment for the country, but it will clearly be a
challenge for Nepalis to take it forward. The Nepali people have shown
incredible determination and will to govern themselves and that is something we
salute. The new government has a lot in its plate. I was able to participate in
the meeting the finance minister had with the foreign donors this week and
there's a huge task getting the economy back on its feet with the agenda of
support for the actual process of peace building and creating a new democratic
constitution. There is a very long term social agenda in terms of women, dalits,
poor people and so on. We believe we've just begun a conversation with the donor
group and the government of Nepal about their priorities and about what can done
in all those areas. We are very pleased with the priority on inclusiveness, but
we will wait to hear from the people and government of Nepal about what their
priorities and the needs are in the weeks and months ahead.
What can we expect in terms of future Canadian aid?
We
have always believed aid should be dictated by the people and government. In our
case, because of the events of the last few years, aid has gone directly to
community projects and not to the government. In the last couple of years
another priority has been projects specifically for peace building in Nepal. For
example we have provided funding for OHCHR and supported a number of grassroots
efforts for community reconciliation. There will be a real need for community
and social development in the next few years and we hope to be able to support
that.
How come after 20 years of diplomatic relations you
still don't have a resident embassy here?
The model that we've used
in much of the world has been to have a regional mission that support a number
of smaller offices. We have offices specifically to do development and also to
support other programs in Kathmandu. We can't have offices everywhere we would
like to have but this seems to be an good compromise. The model has proved
itself in Nepal.
More and more Nepalis are going to Canada
for higher studies, how can you help streamline this process?
There's been a major effort put by the Canadian universities, which in
Canada are heavily independent from the government, to encourage more
international students from South Asia. It's now possible for students to work
part time and during the summers and in most cities to continue after they
graduate and to work for up to two years in Canada to pay up their debts and
gather practical experience. So they are now pretty much on the same basis as
Canadian students. Canadian universities are generally less costly than other
international universities, it makes quite an attractive package. As the economy
picks up here, you will find Canadian universities coming here to market
education opportunities just as they are doing elsewhere. We're terribly worried
about the proliferation of these organisations that call themselves agents. What
the people of Nepal need to understand is that they do not need to apply through
an agent to study in Canada or to apply for student visa once you have received
approval from the university or college. Everything on Canada is very easily
available on the internet. People can do their research and find out all the
information necessary on the internet completely free of
charge.
Is Canada looking at continuing its support for
hydropower development in Nepal?
Canadian companies have been
involved in Nepal for a long time in the construction of hydroelectric projects.
I know there are many plans that have been in government filing cabinets about
additional projects that can be built but the problem has been security. If
people can work safely and effectively in those valleys, given the terrific
interest at the moment for renewable safe energy, I think there will be terrific
interest in hydropower. Canadian companies will certainly be interested in
working in Nepal again. You'll have a very good market for your electricity and
this is a tremendous opportunity for Nepal.
Your advice to the
Maoists?
I pray that the Maoists see their future as a democratic
activist political party that is working through democratic means to speak out
for the poor and for the people who have found themselves voiceless in Nepal
before. It would be good for Nepal if they become a strong leftist political
party. We need that voice, we don't need an insurgency, we don't need
violence.