Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06KATHMANDU2255
2006-08-18 12:26:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:  

NEPAL SUPPORTS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON

Tags:  PREL PTER MOPS UN UNSC IS LE NP 
pdf how-to read a cable
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FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 2832
INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 4682
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT PRIORITY 0056
RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 4920
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS PRIORITY 0063
RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 0043
RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 2912
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RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0108
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV PRIORITY 0481
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 1899
C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002255 

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS UN UNSC IS LE NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL SUPPORTS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON
LEBANON; CONSIDERING TROOPS FOR UNIFIL

REF: SECSTATE 132517

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L KATHMANDU 002255

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E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/29/2015
TAGS: PREL PTER MOPS UN UNSC IS LE NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL SUPPORTS SECURITY COUNCIL RESOLUTION ON
LEBANON; CONSIDERING TROOPS FOR UNIFIL

REF: SECSTATE 132517

Classified By: Ambassador James F. Moriarty. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).


1. (C) Summary: The Ambassador explained the U.S. position on
UN Security Council (UNSC) Resolution 1701 on Lebanon to
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Oli on August 17.
A senior Nepali Foreign Ministry (MFA) official told us
August 18 that Nepal completely supports the resolution.
According to the Defense Advisor to Prime Minister Koirala,
the PM has not yet decided if Nepal will contribute
peacekeepers to an expanded UN force in Lebanon. The
government is considering the idea and may make a decision in
a few days after the PM returns to Kathmandu. End Summary.

Ambassador Briefs Foreign Minister
--------------


2. (C) On August 17, the Ambassador explained U.S. thinking
on UNSC Resolution 1701 to Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister K.P. Oli. He noted that the Government of France
had the lead in generating forces for an expanded UNIFIL
peacekeeping operation on Lebanon's southern border with
Israel. Given Nepal's long and proud history of involvement
in UN peacekeeping generally and in Lebanon in particular,
the Ambassador was confident a Nepali contingent would be
welcome. The Ambassador also took the opportunity to give
Oli a copy of Secretary Rice's August 17 Washington Post
op-ed on Lebanon.

Nepali Foreign Ministry Completely Supportive
--------------


3. (C) During a conversation with Emboff on August 18, MFA
UN, International Organization and International Law Section
Joint Secretary Dinesh Bhattarai expressed Nepal's complete
support for the UN resolution on Lebanon. Bhattarai said that
the MFA had informed the Nepalese Mission in New York to
support the resolution in whatever way possible. The Joint
Secretary stated that the resolution is a "good thing, so

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long as it works" and that Lebanon should be "free from bombs
and killing." He said that all the parties should follow
the resolution. He had told us previously that "non-state
parties cannot have arms."

No Decision Yet on Peacekeepers
--------------


4. (C) Koirala's Defense Advisor, Ramesh Jung Thapa, told the
Deputy Chief of Mission August 18 that Koirala had not yet
decided whether Nepal will contribute forces to an expanded
UN mission in Lebanon. The Prime Minister would be returning
to Kathmandu in two or three days from his hometown of
Biratnagar and might make a decision then. The DCM noted
that the expanded UN force could face a very hostile
environment (the Ambassador had made the same point with Oli
one day earlier),but Nepali troops had the experience and
hardiness required. Thapa added that, if the Nepali
Government did decide to deploy troops, they would require
additional training and would therefore not be available for
immediate deployment.

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


5. (C) The BBC World Service jumped the gun today and
reported that the Government of Nepal had already made a
decision to deploy peacekeepers. Our GON interlocutors were
surprised at this news. That said, it would not be
surprising if the Nepalis do end up offering to assist with
this mission. They know Lebanon and have troops who have
extensive peacekeeping experience. They also have an army
that has only recently thrown off the king's yoke and wants
to prove its bona fides to its new democratic masters. We
hear that Nepali Army officers are actively urging the
civilian leadership to approve the idea. A Nepali UN mission
in Lebanon would be a win-win from our perspective.
MORIARTY