EU CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS ON NEPAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L BRUSSELS 000517 SIPDIS STATE FOR SA AND EUR E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2015 TAGS: PREL PGOV NP USEU BRUSSELS SUBJECT: EU CONSIDERING NEXT STEPS ON NEPAL REF: STATE 19024 Classified By: POLOFF SARAH GROEN FOR REASONS 1.4(B,D) ¶1. (C) PolOff delivered reftel points to the Michael Swann, Administrator for South Asia at the European Council, and European Commission NEPAL Desk Officer Rensje Teerink. Teerink said the Nepalese ambassador to the EU called on Commission Deputy DG for External Relations Herve Jouanjean on Monday, but had less information on what was going on in Nepal than the EU did, since communications with his government had been almost non-existent. Teerink said the EU will reconsider its assistance to NEPAL in light of recent events, but that drastic changes will not be made until the situation has become clearer. Both Council and Commission representatives asked how the USG intends to respond to the king's dismissal of the government, specifically how the action might affect USG assistance programs in Nepal. ¶2. (U) On 2 February, the EU presidency released a statement of concern about the dissolution of the Nepalese government, which said in part, "The EU calls for the speedy restoration of multiparty democracy in NEPAL to better meet the aspirations of the Nepalese people. The EU is gravely concerned about reported restrictions imposed upon political and civil society representatives and recalls the need to ensure respect for civil and political rights. The EU recalls its grave concern over the current human rights crisis in Nepal with frequent and systematic violations by both sides of the conflict. The EU reiterates that continued non-compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law will have serious implications for Nepal's standing in the international community." The full text of the statement is available at http://www.eu2005.lu/en/actualities/ pesc/2005/02/02nepal/index.html. SCHNABEL .