GON PROPOSES BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS MECHANISM

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000837 SIPDIS STATE FOR SA/INS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV NP SUBJECT: GON PROPOSES BILATERAL CONSULTATIONS MECHANISM REF: A. (A) KATHMANDU 0402 ¶B. (B) STATE 72411 ¶1. This is an action request. Please see para 5. ¶2. The Embassy has received a diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposing the establishment of regular bilateral consultations, a topic raised by Foreign Secretary Madhu Raman Acharya during his April 3 meetings in SIPDIS the Department (Ref B). The text of the Diplomatic Note and the accompanying proposal have been faxed to SA/INS. ¶3. Begin text of diplomatic note: The Ministry of the Foreign Affairs, His Majesty's Government of Nepal, presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Kathmandu and has the honor to refer to the recent visit to the United States of America of Foreign Secretary Mr. Madhu Raman Acharya. During the visit, discussions were held on various aspects of Nepal-US relations including an agreement on Consultation Mechanism between Nepal and USA at the Foreign Ministry level for the promotion of bilateral relations. It is expected that such (a) consultation mechanism would provide a regular and institutionalized framework to review and chart a future course of action on the entire gamut of bilateral relations in a broad perspective. The Ministry has the honor to enclose a draft agreement for discussion and further consideration in this respect. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, His Majesty's Government of Nepal, avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Kathmandu the assurances of its highest consideration. Shital Niwas, April 29, 2002 End text of diplomatic note. ¶4. The draft agreement proposes consultations "preferably at least once a year alternately in the capital of either country at the Foreign Ministry level" to include "all aspects of bilateral relations as well as regional and international issues of mutual interest." ¶5. Action Request: Embassy reqeuests Department's guidance on how to respond to the MFA's note. MALINOWSKI