Kathmandu, October 4
Speaker Dol Prasad Aryal will address international forums in the Nepali language.
Aryal is leaving today to lead a Nepali parliamentary delegation to the 153rd Assembly of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), being held from October 5 to 9.
At the assembly in Arusha, Tanzania, Aryal will address the general debate on “Advancing good governance and empowering communities through inclusion, trust and opportunities.”
Nepal has also selected “Urgent Parliamentary Action” as an emergency agenda item. Its main theme is “Addressing climate-related disasters and strengthening resilience in the Himalayan region and other vulnerable areas.”
Nepal will present a proposal on the issue. Such proposals require support from other countries as well.
According to Aryal, the proposal has already received support from 50 countries. Preparations have also been made for around 28 sideline meetings.
Speaking about his visit last Friday, Aryal said he planned to promote the Nepali language at international forums.
“Since I became Speaker, and throughout my tenure, I have tried to promote Nepali, my mother tongue. I have conducted all programmes in Nepali,” Aryal said.
He said he had conducted all diplomatic meetings he held in Nepal through dialogue and interaction in Nepali. He said he would follow the same policy abroad.
“I will communicate in my mother tongue abroad as well,” he said.
Aryal said that although he had spoken in English when he was a minister and was capable of communicating well in English, he had made Nepali the language of communication with all sides since becoming Speaker.
“We have held around 40, 50 or 60 meetings here. No one has ever told me that I should speak in English. They have been happy that I spoke in Nepali. That is why I am also informing you about this [decision to address international forums in Nepali],” he said.
After participating in the 153rd IPU Assembly and related meetings, Speaker Aryal will travel to Kenya.
