NEPAL: REQUEST FOR CONCURRENCE FOR HONORARY

UNCLAS KATHMANDU 000078 SIPDIS SIPDIS, SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV NP SUBJECT: NEPAL: REQUEST FOR CONCURRENCE FOR HONORARY CONSUL (NARAYAN SHRESTHA) Honorary Consul for Colorado Appointed -------------- ¶1. (SBU) The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sent post a diplomatic note dated December 31, 2007 requesting that the United States concur with the Government of Nepal's appointment of Mr. Narayan Shrestha as an Honorary Consul of Nepal for the consular district of Colorado. Shrestha currently resides in Colorado, where he owns several business, including two restaurants, a travel agency and a study abroad center, and heads a non-profit health organization, Helping Hands. Post is faxing a copy of Shrestha's resume to the Nepal desk (SCA/INS). Text of Diplomatic Note -------------- ¶2. (SBU) BEGIN TEXT Government of Nepal Ministry of Foreign Affairs Kathmandu, Nepal No. 064/pro/430 The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal presents its compliments to the Embassy of the United States of America in Kathmandu and has the honour to inform the esteemed Embassy that the Government of Nepal has decided (to appoint) Mr. Narayan Shrestha currently residing in Colorado, as a Honorary Consul of Nepal for the consular district of Colorado, USA, and to request for the concurrence of the Government of the United States of America on the proposed appointment. A copy of [the] Resume of Mr. Shrestha is enclosed herewith. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Nepal, avails itself of this opportunity to renew to the Embassy of the United States of America in Kathmandu the assurances of its highest consideration. Kathmandu, December 31, 2007 Comment -------------- ¶3. Mr. Shrestha is well-known to the Embassy?s Consular Section as he has been the primary U.S. sponsor on a number of visa applications over the years. Some of those were bonafide cases, but a significant number have turned out to involve misrepresentation and fraud by the applicants. Consular Section research has revealed that a number of the applicants who did receive visas, with Mr. Shrestha?s letters of support, overstayed in the U.S. and have never returned to Nepal. ¶4. Shrestha is also known locally for his sponsorship of charitable projects in Nepal through his Helping Hands NGO and for his establishment of several schools, including a small college and a nursing institute in Kathmandu as well as a high school in eastern Nepal. His philanthropic work has been publicized in Nepal and Colorado. POWELL