MFA PROTESTS AMBASSADOR'S CNN INTERVIEW

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001006 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/19/2016 TAGS: PREL PGOV CVIS NP SUBJECT: MFA PROTESTS AMBASSADOR'S CNN INTERVIEW Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d). Government Objects to Ambassador's mention of "Abdication" -------------- -------------- ¶1. (C) On April 18, Acting Foreign Secretary Hari Bahadur Thapa summoned the Ambassador and said that he had been asked to "stage a strong protest" regarding the Ambassador's statement in an April 17 CNN interview that the King might be forced to abdicate if he did not transfer power quickly. Thapa noted that the government found the reference to abdication "objectionable." Thapa at the same time emphasized the government's appreciation of the USG stand in support of dialogue and reconciliation. Ambassador Explains USG Views Situation As Serious -------------- -------------- ¶2. (C) In response to Thapa's query about what prompted him to use this language, the Ambassador explained that the USG feared that Nepal was on the brink of revolution; in such a situation and absent any positive moves by the King to date, the Ambassador felt compelled to point out that a Maoist takeover forcing the King to abdicate was the worst possible outcome. The Ambassador noted that during the CNN interview he had called for immediate action by the King with the clear recognition that the political parties must respond. The Ambassador reminded Thapa that ultimately the King was in charge and had to act positively. The Acting Foreign Secretary expressed the government's wish that friends like SIPDIS the U.S. would "be more moderate." Commenting that he had been moderate for fifteen months, the Ambassador apologized if any offense had been taken, but stressed that his words were meant to convey the seriousness of Nepal's situation. He pointed out that as a result of the current situation, we had authorized our staff and family members to depart post. Noting also that we could not issue visas in Kathmandu, the Ambassador informed the Foreign Secretary of our plans to have Nepali applicants go to Embassy New Delhi for visa services. Comment -------------- ¶3. (C) Thapa's instructions presumably came from Foreign Minister Pandey, who was in town but apparently chose not to present the demarche himself. Thapa bent over backwards to make it clear that the government of Nepal felt it had to object, but did not want to offend the U.S. MORIARTY