Kathmandu: The Ambassadors Club Nepal hosted a Welcome Reception in honor of the newly credentialed Non-Resident Ambassadors of Republic of Austria and The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg to Nepal and their spouses at the Ambassadors Club office in Bishalnagar, Kathmandu on May 21.
Amb. Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal, President and Mr. Bimal Dhakal, Co-Founder of the Ambassadors Club Nepal, International Relations and Global Diplomacy Dialogue (IRGDD), and The Diplomat Nepal magazine accorded warm welcome to newly accredited Non-Resident Ambassador of Austria to Nepal Dr. Robert Zischg, and non-resident Ambassador of Luxembourg to Nepal Mr. Christian Biever, and his esteemed spouse, Mrs. Carole Hecker.
Welcome Reception was hosted in their honor at the Ambassadors Club premises.
On the occasion, Amb. Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal delivered a keynote speech to welcome the esteemed guests. The event was held amid a ceremony participated in by Ambassadors, Senior Officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) Nepal, and Heads of International Organizations.
Additionally, Amb. Dr. Sarmila, who is also the former ambassador of Nepal to Spain and Oman, extended her heartfelt congratulations to Ms. Rojina Tamrakar on her appointment as Executive Director of the Institute of Foreign Affairs Nepal (IFA Nepal). She stated that Ms Tamrakar’s earlier service as Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of Nepal in Oman reflected both integrity and dedication and expressed that Ms. Tamrakar will continue to elevate Nepal’s diplomatic scholarship and institutional strength in her new role.
Amb. Dr. Sarmila said it was an honor to host the evening on behalf of the Ambassadors Club Nepal, IRGDD, The Diplomat Nepal, and the Diplomatic Academy Nepal (DAN). “This is a gathering of purpose, of people who believe that diplomacy is not confined to protocol, but is lived through relationships, trust, and shared aspirations,” she said. She further emphasized that diplomats are not only representatives of states, but custodians of dialogue, understanding, and cooperation.
Highlighting the bilateral ties between Nepal and Austria, she said that there’s a profound alpine affinity with Austria with two nations shaped by mountains, resilience, multilateral engagement, and a shared responsibility to give voice to highland communities in global discourse. With Luxembourg, she said, the celebration of a relationship continues to grow with quiet strength, anchored in sustainability, and mutual respect.
Ambassador Dr Sarmila Parajuli Dhakal mentioned the first anniversary of Ambassadors Club Nepal, IRGDD, and The Diplomat Nepal which took place on May 18, 2026. “This milestone was marked by a profound sense of encouragement, as we were honored to receive gracious well-wishes from the esteemed diplomatic community,” she said. Amb. Dr Sarmila conferred the ‘honorary membership’ of the Ambassadors Club Nepal to newly credentialed Non-Resident Ambassadors and their spouses. “This is conferred upon to remain part of a living community of dialogue, friendship, and shared purpose, forever with Nepal,” she said.
Ambassador of Luxembourg Mr. Christian Biever extended sincere thanks to Dr. Sarmila and Mr. Bimal Dhakal for organizing the event and said that he feels honored to be accredited to Nepal. He stated that both he and his wife, Carolyn Hecker, were very honored to be part of the event and that they look forward to meeting and discussing with everyone. He further emphasized that Nepal is an amazing country and that he was really amazed by the event organized for them.
Ambassador of Austria Dr. Robert Zischg also expressed his gratitude and highlighted the similarities between Austria, Luxembourg, and Nepal. “All three of these nations are landlocked and do not have access to the sea,” he said. He also mentioned that all three nations are mountainous countries and that these are some interesting features that combine them all.
He extended sincere thanks to Dr. Sarmila and Mr. Bimal Dhakal as well as the Ambassadors Club for organizing the evening reception and said he looks forward to meeting future friends. He also mentioned his discussion with Rt Honorable President Ram Chandra Paudel and said that it was an honor and pleasure for him to be in Kathmandu to not only discover the beauties of Kathmandu but to also discover valleys, the mountains, and the peaks.
Amb. Dr. Sarmila made a special acknowledgement by handing over a token of appreciation to His Excellency Mr. Abrar Hussain Hashmi, the Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal to bid him a farewell. She expressed profound gratitude for H.E. Mr. Hussain’s exceptional service, dedication, and significant contributions to strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries.
The programme was attended by Mr. Christian Biever, Ambassador of Luxembourg, and his spouse Mrs. Carole Hecker; Mr. Robert Zischg, Ambassador of Austria; Mr Pushkar Sapkota, Member Secretary (Law and Human Rights Sector), Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers, together with his esteemed spouse, Mrs. Chandra Sapkota; Mr. Ram Kaji Khadka, Joint Secretary, Central Asia, West Asia, and Africa Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA Nepal); Mr. Durapada Sapkota, Joint Secretary/Director General, Department of Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA Nepal); Mr. Abdulla Saeed Mubarak Jarwan Alshamsi, Ambassador of UAE; Mr. Mishal Mohammed Al Ansari, Ambassador of Qatar; Mr. Fahd Mohammad Ajmi Mnikhr, Ambassador of Saudi Arabia; Mr. U Thant Sin, Ambassador of Myanmar; Mr. Abrar Hussain Hashmi, Ambassador of Pakistan; Md Shafiqur Rahman, Ambassador of Bangladesh; Mr. Udo Eugen Volz, Ambassador of Germany, and his spouse, Mrs. Marianne Beck-Volz; Mohd Firdaus bin Azman, Charge d’Affaires of Malaysia, and Mrs. Monirah Anis Binti Mansor; Yuba Nath Lamsal, Former Ambassador of Nepal to Denmark; Mr. Shree Ram Lamichanne, Honorary Consul General of Luxembourg; Mr. Rajesh Babu Shrestha, Honorary Consul of Austria; Mr. Bhola Bikram Thapa, Honorary Consul of Bulgaria; Mr. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC and his spouse Mrs. Taslina Sarwar; Mr. Chandi Raj Dhakal, President, SAARC CCI; Mr. Sriram Haridass, UNFPA Country Representative; Mr. Riaz Lodhi, WFP Country Director, and his spouse, Mrs. Afeera Riaz Lodhi; Mr. Pranav Kumar Gupta, IMF Resident Representative; Mr. Sudan Gyawali, WHO Multi-Sector Coordinator; Ms. Lenneke Braam, Country Director, SNV; and Jaya Rajya Laxmi Shah, Former District Governor, Rotary International, among others.
The evening concluded with networking and a cultural performance by Nepali musical band Sursudha.
The Ambassadors Club Nepal is a shared platform for all Resident and Non-Resident Ambassadors, Heads of Missions, and Diplomats accredited to Nepal to foster diplomacy and cooperation.
