Nepal summons EU envoy over joint statement with India

Nepal today summoned EU's envoy here over the reference to Nepal's Constitution in the India-EU joint statement last week and asserted that "external meddling" was unacceptable.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kamal Thapa, in his meeting with Ambassador or Head of European Union Delegation to Nepal Rensje Teerink, questioned the envoy on how the Nepal's Constitutional issue found mention in the joint statement, sources said.
Thapa told the envoy that the Constitution falls under Nepal's internal affairs.
"It's our internal issue and we are capable of seeking its solution ourselves. We would not accept any external meddling over the issue of the Constitution," Thapa said.

Teerink reiterated that European Union is not for offending Nepal when asked whether EU's view on Nepal's Constitution has changed.
The India-EU joint statement, issued after the 13th India-EU Summit in Brussels, had said that the two sides had "agreed on the need for a lasting and inclusive Constitutional settlement in Nepal that will address the remaining Constitutional issues in a time bound manner, and promote political stability and economic growth."

Nepal had hit out at the statement saying it was "uncalled for" and hurt people's sentiments.
Following the promulgation of the new Constitution, the EU had described it as a historic event marking the culmination of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

The India-EU statement came as the Madhesis, mostly of Indian origin, have been demanding the new Constitution be amended to include their concerns about adequate political representation and redrawing of federal boundaries.
They had enforced months-long blockade of Nepal's all trading points with India, creating huge shortage of essential commodities in the country and souring Indo-Nepal ties.
Nepal had accused India of imposing the "economic blockade", which India strongly denied.