NEPAL: 61ST UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HIGH LEVEL

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 002087 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR SCA/INS, SCA/RA(LEE),IO/UNP(HARRIS) NSC FOR WILLIAMS-MANIGAULT USUN FOR OLSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL OTRA OVIP KSEP UNGA NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: 61ST UN GENERAL ASSEMBLY: HIGH LEVEL ATTENDANCE AND REQUESTS FOR MEETINGS REF: A. SECSTATE 112656 ¶B. KATHMANDU 2007 ¶1. (SBU) Post provides the following response, keyed to ref A, regarding high-level Nepali attendance and requests for meetings at the 61st UN General Assembly (UNGA). We will provide additional details as they become available: ¶A. King Gyanendra will not atend the UNGA. (Note: The King remains Head of State even though he was stripped of most of his powers in May 2006. End note.) ¶B. Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala will not attend. ¶C. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli (KP Oli) will head the Nepali delegation to the UNGA. -- Oli plans to arrive on September 18 and depart on September 25. Oli plans to be present for the General Debate. -- Oli's spouse does not plan to travel to New York. -- Interpretation is not required. Oli speaks fluent English. ¶D. The Foreign Ministry confirmed that other VIPs will attend the UNGA, but details will not be finalized for a few weeks. ¶E. Joint Secretary of the UN division Dinesh Bhattarai is the senior Foreign Ministry official responsible for IO affairs but his travel plans at this time are still unclear. ¶2. (SBU) The Ambassador strongly recommends meeting Nepali Deputy Prime Minister KP Oli at the highest level possible to support Nepal's transition to democracy (ref B). MORIARTY