Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU1794
2006-07-10 10:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL//NOFORN
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL ASKS USG SUPPORT FOR UN ASSISTANCE

Tags:  PREL PGOV PTER NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2249
INFO RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON IMMEDIATE 4217
RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI IMMEDIATE 9980
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO IMMEDIATE 4820
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RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD IMMEDIATE 2807
RUEHKO/AMEMBASSY TOKYO IMMEDIATE 0963
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA IMMEDIATE 1219
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC IMMEDIATE
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 1872
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C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001794 

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL ASKS USG SUPPORT FOR UN ASSISTANCE

REF: A. KATHMANDU 1744

B. KATHMANDU 1731

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nick Dean, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 001794

SIPDIS

NOFORN
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/10/2016
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL ASKS USG SUPPORT FOR UN ASSISTANCE

REF: A. KATHMANDU 1744

B. KATHMANDU 1731

Classified By: Charge d'Affaires Nick Dean, Reasons, 1.4 (b/d).

Summary
--------------


1. (C/NF) The GON shared with Post a copy of Prime Minister
Koirala's letter requesting assistance from the United
Nations (full text in para. 5) and asked for our support in
getting the UN to give a prompt, positive response. The GON
is worried that India is opposing UN action. According to
the PM's foreign affairs advisor, the GON is also concerned
that India is putting pressure on the GON to consult with the
Maoists. End Summary.

GON Seeks U.S. Help
--------------


2. (C/NF) On July 9, Prime Minister Koirala's Foreign Affairs
Advisor, Suresh Chalise, requested USG support for the July 2
request for UN assistance by the Government of Nepal (GON)
(ref A). Chalise said he had been in touch with Nepal's
Ambassador to the UN, Madhu Raman Acharya (former Foreign
Secretary),who had indicated the UN - and India - had issues

SIPDIS
with the GON letter. Chalise expressed concern that India
had been putting pressure on the GON to consult with the
Maoists. He explained that Prime Minister Koirala's
strongly-held view was that "the unconstitutional status of
the rebels does not allow the GON to consult with the
Maoists." According to Chalise, the GON made the request for
assistance to the UN as a sovereign member-state.

UN Assistance to Prepare For Constituent Assembly Elections
-------------- --------------


3. (C/NF) Chalise noted that the Government of India had been
pressing him for a copy of the letter. He stated that the
Foreign Ministry had a copy of the letter, explaining that
the Foreign Secretary had received a copy and been present on
July 3 when Chalise had handed over the letter to the UN.
(Note: Foreign Minister/Deputy Prime Minister KP Oli recently
denied having a copy of the final text - an issue on
Kathmandu's front-pages. End Note.) As previewed by UN
Resident Representative Matthew Kahane (ref B),the PM's
letter specifically requested the UN to:


-- continue monitoring human rights through the UN Office of
the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR);

-- assist monitoring the Code of Conduct during the ceasefire;

-- assist in the monitoring of Maoist combatants and
decommissioning of Maoist arms in order to ensure free and
fair constituent assembly elections;

-- monitor to ensure the Nepali Army (NA) is inside its
barracks and not used by any side in constituent assembly
elections;

-- observe the election process to the constituent assembly.

In his letter, PM Koirala stated that the GON plans to hold
the elections by mid-April 2007, and thus requested support
at the UN's earliest convenience. Chalise said the Prime
Minister was now worried that the UN's response would not be
early, and that it might not be positive.

Comment
--------------


4. (C) The Prime Minister anticipates a very negative
reaction to the GON's request that the UN help with
decommissioning, not just management, of Maoist arms.
However, he also believes that decommissioning is what is
needed to have free and fair constituent assembly elections,
which has been the long-standing number one Maoist demand.
The GON views calls for consultations with the Maoists -
whether by Nepali parties, the international community, or
the UN - as a tactic to delay UN assistance, which it
believes is essential for the peace process to go forward.
The GON also recognizes that speed in getting UN monitoring
on the ground is essential as Maoists have not really started
observing the code of conduct, yet are engaged in a campaign
to blame any potential failure of peace talks on the GON or
the international community. U.S. support for a robust and
prompt response by the UN to the GON's request for assistance
is both appropriate and essential in moving this key element
of the peace process forward.

Text of Prime Minister's Letter
--------------


5. (C/NF) Chalise asked that we not share the text of the
letter. Begin text of letter as written:

H.E. Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of the United Nations

SIPDIS
New York

Date: 2 July 2006

Dear Mr. Secretary General,

I have the pleasure of informing you that the Government
of Nepal has taken decisive steps to consolidate the
achievements of the successful people's movement that
restored democracy and made the people of Nepal supreme and
sovereign once and for all. This has set in motion Nepal's
determined search for real and lasting peace based on the
national unity and reconciliation, and move towards stability
by strengthening and institutionalizing the democratic
process in the country.

On June 16, 2006, the Seven Party Alliance and the
Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) concluded an eight-point
agreement covering steps that are needed to create a
conducive environment to elect a Constituent Assembly to
ensure permanent peace in society. Earlier on May 26, the
Government reached an agreement with the Communist Party of
Nepal (Maoists) on a twenty-five point Code of Conduct to be
observed during the ceasefire between the two sides.

In view of the firm commitment of the United Nations to
promote sustainable peace and security, economic and social
development and human rights around the world on the basis of
fundamental principles of respect for sovereignty of nations,
mutual cooperation and peaceful resolution of conflicts, the
Government of Nepal decides to request the United Nations for
the following:


1. Continue monitoring of human rights through the
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal
(OHCHR-Nepal).


2. Assist to monitor the Code of Conduct during the
ceasefire.


3. Assist in the monitoring of the combatants of the
Maoists and decommissioning of their arms in order to ensure
a free and fair election to the Constituent Assembly.


4. Monitor to assure that the Nepal Army is inside
barracks and is not being used for or against any side in
order to ensure a free and fair election to the Constituent
Assembly.


5. Observe the election process to the Constituent
Assembly.

As we plan to hold the election to the Constituent
Assembly by the end of current Nepali Year (mid-April 2007),
I would be grateful if you could start extending the
necessary support of the United Nations on the
above-mentioned issues at your earliest convenience.

I would like to take this opportunity to express sincere
appreciation and gratitude of the Government of Nepal to the
United Nations and to you personally for the consistent
support for a democratic process and continued interest in
the peace building in Nepal.

Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration.

//S//
Girija Prasad Koirala

End text of letter.
DEAN