India shakes carrot...

The Enforcer from the Sout Block landed here in the afternppn. I think he's in for a good scolding by HM who ubdoubtedly will ask him how could a meeting with internationally sought (Red Corner Notice !) rake place in New Delhi!
But Sharan already waves the carrot, reminding Nepalis they could get filthy rich:

Nepal could become the richest country of the region: Saran

A day ahead of his visit to Kathmandu, Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran has said Nepal could become the richest country of the region because of its immense hydro-power and tourism potential which remained unutilised.

Indian Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran

?India could help the Himalayan Kingdom in realising this potential by increasing trade relations with the country,? said Saran told official Press Trust of India (PTI) news agency.

Saran is scheduled to arrive Kathmandu on Sunday for discussions with senior Nepali officials. His Majesty King Gyanendra is expected to grant audience to Saran while in Kathmandu, according to reports.

The visit is significant as India is pushing King Gyanendra to restore multi-party democracy ending monarchial rule imposed on the country on February one this year, the news report said.

"This (Nepal) is one country having prospects of becoming the richest in the region because of its hydro potential which is much larger than Bhutan," Saran said in New Delhi addressing a seminar on '13th SAARC Summit -- The Road Ahead'.

Saran?who is also the former Indian envoy to Nepal-- said India and Nepal had trade and transit agreements because of which the bilateral trade had witnessed a significant increase.

Talking about tourism potential in Nepal, he said if highways are constructed from major cities of India to various places in the Himalayan Kingdom, it will help the economy of that country.

"If the potential in tourism sector is tapped, it will completely transform the economic prospects of the country," he said.

The Foreign Secretary said India was helping in this process by developing the infrastructure like road and rail connectivity. "Much more is to be done.?

During his visit to Nepal, Saran is expected to raise the issue of import of arms from by Nepal and also extend invitation to His Majesty to visit India, according to reports.

nepalnews.com by Dec 11 05

Somehow he doesn't convey the message that it's acutally NEPALI rivers, and on the other hand wants to preclude participation of China - the Tibet Auton.Region delegation is still in town! Would be interesting if they bumped into each other...