One Polish national, as back as in 1977, who was with a Polish mountaineering team to scale some high mountains of Nepal, was seen one evening in Kathmandu unusually looking up in the skies.

This scribe asked as to what he had been doing?

He said, “I am inhaling Oxygen which is abundant in your country”.

I was taken aback but have had to admit that in those days we have had enough oxygen to inhale.

Now things have become different in Kathmandu.

It should have been the year 1979, November 25, when the Kathmandu based Polish Embassy Charge d’Affaires, Mr. Andrzej Wawarzyniak, organized a colorful function here to mark the first twentieth anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-Poland diplomatic relations.

In 1959, Nepal and Poland established diplomatic ties.

Then foreign minister K. B. Shahi lauded the Polish role in the international arena and observed that Nepal and Poland had more often than not similar views as regards the contemporary international events.

Andrzej Wawarzyniak then had declared that about a dozen or so Polish Alpinists were coming to Nepal to scale Nepal’s various rough and tough mountains.

And he was true in his prediction.

A number of Polish alpinists in about ten years time practically scaled entire Nepali mountains including the Mount Everest.

Ms. Wanda Rutkeiwicz successfully scaled Mount Everest in 1979 and was greeted by the officials of the Nepal-Poland Friendship Association immediately after her return from the Everest. The Polish embassy was definitely assisting the friendship Association.

It was a double happiness this year for Poland.

If Wanda scaled Everest then the same year a polish national was appointed as the Pope at the Vatican.

A rare honor for the Poles that it was by all means.

Coming down the lane today, Nepal-Poland ties will have completed the first Golden Jubilee Year of the establishment of bilateral ties.

Today, November 19, 2009, the Institute of Foreign Affairs (IFA), a Nepal Government undertaking, organized a colorful program to mark the 50^th anniversary of Nepal-Poland diplomatic ties.

Welcoming the attending guests both from Nepal and Poland, the Executive director of the IFA, Mr. Gopal Pokhrel maintained that Nepal-Poland ties remained ever friendly since the establishment of diplomatic ties. He, however, appealed the concerned authorities to explore avenues wherein both Nepal and Poland can benefit from mutual cooperation.

Dr. Pokhrel reminded the attending participants of the role of the Nepal-Poland Friendship Association (NPFA)- in enhancing people to people level ties in between the two friendly countries.

He also lauded the efforts made by the NPFA Chairman, N.P. Upadhyaya in cementing the Nepal-Poland ties in the past.

Jaya raj Acharya, a Nepali Congress academic personality who is also the Chairman of Nepal-Poland Friendhip Council opined that Nepal can learn much from the Polish experiences.

He congratulated the Polish leadership for having smoothly moved to democratic order from Communist framework.

The Polish Ambassador to Nepal, Professor Piotr Klodkowski proudly declared that his country was a member of United Europe and also a member of NATO.

He, however, maintained that friendship should also take due interests in the expansion of business relations as well.

The Ambassador who made a presentation urged the Nepali side to “identify” the areas where in Nepal and Poland can make combined efforts in the expansion of bilateral business which stood at a very low level as of today.

“We could be interested in involving ourselves in the food processing and tourism sector in Nepal”, the Polish Ambassador revealed.

The Polish dignitary suggested the Nepali business community to establish a data base/bank which will facilitate the investors from abroad to identify the areas where they can invest their money in Nepal.

The Ambassador who wore a Nepali Dhaka cap looked very much like a Nepali and during the presentation period he was with the Nepali cap.

During the course of his speech, the Polish envoy applauded the role of Mr. Andrzej Wawarzyniak for enhancing Poland-Nepal ties by organizing various cultural activities in Poland.

The Polish Ambassador, Professor Piotr Klodkowski revealed that he was a regular visitor of Nepal since 1996 and had already penned a book on Nepal.

Later, Minister of Energy, Dr. Prakash Saran Mahat demanded that both Nepal and Poland should now actively engage itself in exploring the avenues wherein both can work together for mutual benefits.

A congratulatory message from the Polish Foreign Minister was handed over to Minister Mahat which basically was a congratulatory message from Poland to Nepal on the eve of 50^th Anniversary of Nepal-Poland diplomatic ties.

Ms. Anjan Shakya offered vote of thanks.

Thus ended the commemoration of 50^th anniversary of Nepal-Poland diplomatic ties in Kathmandu today.

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