Speeches were made at the functions.

C. P. Mainali, general secretary of the Central Committee of the Nepal Communist Party (Marxist-Leninist), highly praised Kim Il Sung as the benefactor of Korea's liberation, invincible and iron-willed commander and father of socialist Korea.

He noted that the revolutionary cause of Juche started by Kim Il Sung is being successfully carried forward under the distinguished leadership of Kim Jong Il.

Manju Ratna Sakya, chairman of the Nepal Journalist Association, said that April 15 is a very significant day of history not only to the Korean people but also to the world progressives. Kim Il Sung, who performed the immortal exploits for the Korean revolution and the world revolution, is the most prominent person recognized by the world, he added.

S. N. Sserwanga, secretary general of the African Regional Committee of Friendship and Solidarity with the Korean People, stated that the Korean People's Army has grown to be an army strong in ideology and faith and an invincible army fully prepared in the aspect of military technique under the wise leadership of Kim Jong Il.

The director-general of a Russian forestry co. ltd. said that Kim Il Sung was a prominent thinker-theoretician and leader of the state and a close friend of the Russian people as he performed enormous feats for the development of the friendly relations between the two countries.