Diplomats’ crowd in Thimphu

Posted On June 4, 2012

The Bhutanese media remain silent, or remain unknown, but diplomats from 16 countries, mostly based in New Delhi and Dhaka visited Bhutan in last week of May.

Diplomats from Lithuania, Ethiopia, Albanian and Dominican Republic, all based in New Delhi, met with Prime Minister Jigmi Thinley in Thimphu on Friday. Other 12 diplomats had visited him few days earlier. They were from Chile, Kyrgyzstan, Malaysia, Peru, Romania, Lebanon, Palestine, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Oman, all based in India and Bangladesh

None of the Bhutanese media wrote the news. Strange to notice that presence of such a large number of diplomats in capital of a country whose diplomatic relations is squeezed to few, passed without notice to the media.

The government has called it an effort to enhance international relations. But in essence, it was part of the Thinley government to get votes for UN non-permanent seat. Bhutan, hesitant to accept proposals from many country to establish relation a few years back is coming up fiercely to build relations.

Bhutan is gearing up to cash votes from smaller nations, who can be easily swayed by the new economic philosophy of happiness that has gained UN support.

According to statement from cabinet secretariat, among various other issues, PM Thinley and the diplomats discussed strengthening relations and of establishing relations for those countries Bhutan is yet to have formal diplomatic ties. The leaders also spoke on Bhutan’s April 2nd meeting in New York on Happiness, the upcoming Rio Summit and Bhutan’s development philosophy – GNH.

Many other diplomats including those from Iran, Czech Republic and Australia visited Bhutan earlier in May. None of these visits come into the public notice.