Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07KATHMANDU2136
2007-12-31 10:00:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Kathmandu
Cable title:
NEPAL: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS EXTENSION OF UNMIN
how-toVZCZCXRO2171 OO RUEHCI DE RUEHKT #2136/01 3651000 ZNY CCCCC ZZH O 311000Z DEC 07 FM AMEMBASSY KATHMANDU TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7677 INFO RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 6211 RUEHLM/AMEMBASSY COLOMBO PRIORITY 6535 RUEHKA/AMEMBASSY DHAKA PRIORITY 1798 RUEHIL/AMEMBASSY ISLAMABAD PRIORITY 4561 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 5798 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 2085 RUEHCI/AMCONSUL KOLKATA PRIORITY 3931 RHMFISS/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC PRIORITY RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHDC PRIORITY RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA PRIORITY 1947 RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK PRIORITY 3048
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 002136
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER UNSC NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS EXTENSION OF UNMIN
MANDATE
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 KATHMANDU 002136
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER UNSC NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS EXTENSION OF UNMIN
MANDATE
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) chief Ian Martin revealed
at a press conference December 27 that the Nepali Government
had formally requested an extension of UNMIN's mandate for an
additional six months. The 23-Point Agreement that the
poltical parties and the Maoists signed on December 23
apparently was the impetus needed for delivery of the letter,
which had been penned in mid-December. The UN Security
Council is expected to take up the extension on January 11.
Nepal Requests Extension of UNMIN Mandate
--------------
2. (C) At a press conference December 27 at which he
announced the results of the combatant verification process
(septel),UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) chief Ian Martin also
revealed that the Government of Nepal (GON) had formally
requested an extension of the UNMIN mandate for a further six
months. He pointed out that the letter to UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-Moon had already been shared with the Security
Council. According to UNMIN political advisor John Norris,
the letter had been ready for a while, "collecting dust,"
while the GON waited for a political agreement between the
Six-Party Alliance and the Maoists. (Note: The text of the
letter, which is dated December 18, is copied below.) Norris
said the signing of the 23-Point Agreement on December 23 had
"done the trick." Nepal's Permanent Representative to the
United Nations apparently forwarded the letter sometime
thereafter.
Text of Letter to UN Secretary General
--------------
3. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:
December 18, 2007
Excellency,
Upon instruction from my government, I have the honour to
inform you that the Government of Nepal has decided to
request for an extension of the duration of the United
Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for a period of six months
from the date of expiry of its current mandate on 23 January
2008. This extension is requested in recognition of UNMIN,s
contribution and its continued relevance in assisting the
ongoing peace process upon Nepal,s request in the mandated
areas as per the Security Council resolution (1740/2007).
I have further honour to inform you that an agreement has
been reached for holding the election to the Constituent
Assembly by mid-April 2008 and the government is firmly
committed and is seriously engaging all stakeholders with a
view to implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and
bringing the nationally-owned peace process toward its
logical conclusion.
I take this opportunity to express the sincere appreciation
of the Government of Nepal for your continued support to the
peace process.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration.
/s/
Madhu Raman Acharya
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General
SIPDIS
United Nations
KATHMANDU 00002136 002 OF 002
New York
END TEXT
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Foreign Secretary Acharya confirmed to the Ambassador
December 31 that he expected that the Security Council would
take up the issue of UNMIN extension on January 11 in New
York. He added that Permanent Representative Acharya had
already been in contact with the Italian Security Council
President on the issue and would be speaking with the
incoming Libyan President soon. Unlike in 2006 when the UN
Mission was first established, this time there will be no
parallel Maoist letter. In response to a question from the
Ambassador, however, Acharya did explain that he had
personally requested that Prime Minister Koirala ensure the
Maoists as well as the other parties in the coalition
supported the extension, which the Prime Minister had done.
Acharya added that, with the issue of an expanded mission off
the table, he anticipated the extension process to move
smoothly forward. UNMIN political advisor John Norris
confirmed December 31 that UNMIN was of the same opinion.
POWELL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2017
TAGS: PGOV PTER UNSC NP
SUBJECT: NEPAL: GOVERNMENT REQUESTS EXTENSION OF UNMIN
MANDATE
Classified By: Ambassador Nancy J. Powell. Reasons 1.4 (b/d).
Summary
--------------
1. (C) UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) chief Ian Martin revealed
at a press conference December 27 that the Nepali Government
had formally requested an extension of UNMIN's mandate for an
additional six months. The 23-Point Agreement that the
poltical parties and the Maoists signed on December 23
apparently was the impetus needed for delivery of the letter,
which had been penned in mid-December. The UN Security
Council is expected to take up the extension on January 11.
Nepal Requests Extension of UNMIN Mandate
--------------
2. (C) At a press conference December 27 at which he
announced the results of the combatant verification process
(septel),UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) chief Ian Martin also
revealed that the Government of Nepal (GON) had formally
requested an extension of the UNMIN mandate for a further six
months. He pointed out that the letter to UN Secretary
General Ban Ki-Moon had already been shared with the Security
Council. According to UNMIN political advisor John Norris,
the letter had been ready for a while, "collecting dust,"
while the GON waited for a political agreement between the
Six-Party Alliance and the Maoists. (Note: The text of the
letter, which is dated December 18, is copied below.) Norris
said the signing of the 23-Point Agreement on December 23 had
"done the trick." Nepal's Permanent Representative to the
United Nations apparently forwarded the letter sometime
thereafter.
Text of Letter to UN Secretary General
--------------
3. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT:
December 18, 2007
Excellency,
Upon instruction from my government, I have the honour to
inform you that the Government of Nepal has decided to
request for an extension of the duration of the United
Nations Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) for a period of six months
from the date of expiry of its current mandate on 23 January
2008. This extension is requested in recognition of UNMIN,s
contribution and its continued relevance in assisting the
ongoing peace process upon Nepal,s request in the mandated
areas as per the Security Council resolution (1740/2007).
I have further honour to inform you that an agreement has
been reached for holding the election to the Constituent
Assembly by mid-April 2008 and the government is firmly
committed and is seriously engaging all stakeholders with a
view to implementing the Comprehensive Peace Agreement and
bringing the nationally-owned peace process toward its
logical conclusion.
I take this opportunity to express the sincere appreciation
of the Government of Nepal for your continued support to the
peace process.
Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest
consideration.
/s/
Madhu Raman Acharya
Ambassador
Permanent Representative
His Excellency Mr. Ban Ki-Moon
Secretary-General
SIPDIS
United Nations
KATHMANDU 00002136 002 OF 002
New York
END TEXT
Comment
--------------
4. (C) Foreign Secretary Acharya confirmed to the Ambassador
December 31 that he expected that the Security Council would
take up the issue of UNMIN extension on January 11 in New
York. He added that Permanent Representative Acharya had
already been in contact with the Italian Security Council
President on the issue and would be speaking with the
incoming Libyan President soon. Unlike in 2006 when the UN
Mission was first established, this time there will be no
parallel Maoist letter. In response to a question from the
Ambassador, however, Acharya did explain that he had
personally requested that Prime Minister Koirala ensure the
Maoists as well as the other parties in the coalition
supported the extension, which the Prime Minister had done.
Acharya added that, with the issue of an expanded mission off
the table, he anticipated the extension process to move
smoothly forward. UNMIN political advisor John Norris
confirmed December 31 that UNMIN was of the same opinion.
POWELL