FM PANDEY ON UNSC REFORM, RELATIONS WITH INDIA

S E C R E T KATHMANDU 001267

SIPDIS

NOFORN

DEPT FOR SA/INS
NSC FOR GREEN/DORMANDY
LONDON FOR POL-BELL

E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/10/2015
TAGS: PGOV PINS NP GON
SUBJECT: FM PANDEY ON UNSC REFORM, RELATIONS WITH INDIA

REF: KATHMANDU 1219

Classified By: Charge Elisabeth I. Millard, Reasons 1.4 (b/d)

NEED TO REACH OUT TO POLITICAL PARTIES
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1. (C) On June 9 the Charge pressed Foreign Minister Ramesh
Nath Pandey on the need for His Majesty's Government of Nepal
(HMGN) to reach out to the political parties. She explained
that Washington was focused on Nepal and needed a sense of
how the process of returning to democracy would move forward.
Noting recent positive steps, including numerous releases of
political detainees, she stressed that HMGN still needed to
create a conducive environment for talks with the political
parties. She urged the King to reach out and meet with Party
leaders. Pandey reassured the Charge that it could be done
and he would work to arrange it, but Nepal did not want to be
seen as starting a dialogue in response to Indian pressure.
The FonMin worried that the Government of India (GOI) was
meeting with Nepal's Party leaders in New Delhi, but were not
engaged or communicating with HMGN. He reiterated concerns
that the GOI was brokering a deal between the Maoists and
Nepal's political parties. The Charge reassured FM Pandey
that the U.S. was watching and working with the GOI.

UNSC REFORM
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2. (C) Using IO guidance to respond to FM Pandey's previous
request (reftel),the Charge explained the U.S. position on
UN Security Council Reform. Pandey stated that he did not
believe the UN would decide on the G-4 proposal before UNGA.
He explained that Nepal supported Japan's request for
permanent membership, but opined that Japan's decision to
join the G-4 could hurt its case. He added that not a single
country in South Asia wanted India to become a permanent
member of the Security Council because India was already so
strong in the region. The Foreign Minister was concerned
that a premature consideration of the G-4 proposal could be
very divisive and have serious consequences on the UN's
effectiveness. He suggested postponing a decision and
seeking an alternative proposal. He recommended appointing a
committee made up of 20-25 Foreign Ministers from across the
spectrum of developed to least-developed countries; the
committee would propose modalities for UNSC reform. The
Charge undertook to pass his idea back for Washington's
consideration.

MORE CONCERN ABOUT POSSIBLE INDIAN SUPPORT FOR MAOISTS
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3. (S/NF) FM Pandey told the Charge that he had received very
disturbing news from Chief of Army Staff Thapa that India's
Research and Intelligence wing had been training the Maoists
at the same location where the APF had been trained, Dehra
Dun (he did not give a time frame). The Charge, noting this
was a very serious allegation that appeared unlikely,
requested that the FonMin pass any evidence supporting this
claim through liaison channels.
MILLARD